The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced on Sunday that only three bodies have been recovered following the helicopter crash operated by East Winds Aviation in Port Harcourt.
News About Nigeria reports that this update counters earlier reports suggesting two additional bodies were found after the Thursday incident.
NNPCL spokesperson Olufemi Soneye stated that the helicopter, carrying six NNPC officials and two crew members, crashed shortly after taking off from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route to the FPSO-NUIMS Antan oil platform.
Soneye confirmed that the search for five missing people continues, with agencies conducting intensified search and rescue operations.
“The NNPC Ltd wishes to announce that, beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered,” Soneye said in the statement.
“The company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining individuals, in conjunction with relevant authorities, are still underway.
“Once again, our hearts and prayers are with the families affected by this unfortunate incident,” he added.
According to the flight manifest, the passengers included NNPC employees Tamunoemi Suku, Alu Lawrence, Etim Emmanuel, Kenneth Chikwem, Frank Oriamre, and Borris Ndorbo, with Captain Yakubu Dukas identified as the pilot. The identity of the eighth person on board remains unconfirmed.
On Saturday, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) announced that the search for the missing helicopter and three unaccounted-for passengers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, continues without success.
Over 48 hours after the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed en route to the FPSO—NUIMS ANTAN, the search teams have yet to locate debris or any signs of survivors.
In an official statement, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs, Bimbo Oladeji, explained that rescue operations resumed early Saturday morning, expanding the search area in hopes of locating the crash site.
