In a bid to further keep the general public abreast of the crashed helicopter which occurred on 14th October, 2024, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FICArb (UK) said at midnight on 31 October 2024, the wreckage of the helicopter was located with major parts and component of the helicopter missing, including the flight recorder.
The Minister made this known during a Press conference held on 13th November, 2024 at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The helicopter Sikorsky S76C+ Aircraft, according to the Minister was manufactured in 1998 by Sikorsky Aircraft, USA (Serial Num: 760486, Registration Marks: 5N-BQG), which departed from Port Harcourt Military Airport with destination to NNPC’s Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel (FPSO), Nium Antan, with 8 (eight) Individuals, 6 passengers and 2 Crew members.
Keyamo stated that the essence of the Press conference was inform that a thorough investigation, by deploying available techniques to find a safety issue and recommend a safety change to prevent future happenings, examine the roles of man, machine, and the environment that might have directly or indirectly contributed to the accident, review the certified maintenance documents of the crashed helicopter, the crew’s training and medical records and examined the engines and related components of the helicopter upon the recovery of the flight recorder (Black Box) on Friday, 8th November,2024 and reassured the public of the Federal Government’s commitment in ensuring thorough investigation is carried out and maintained that the Preliminary Report will be published on NSIB website within 30 days.
While extending condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the deceased victims of the accident, the Minister stated that the investigation into the accident does not apportion blame or assist in determining liability. He further acknowledged the cooperation from operators like, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
He stated further that “The United States of America, as the State of Design and Manufacture of the helicopter, has appointed an NTSB investigator as the Accredited Representative, assisted by a Technical Adviser nominated by Sikorsky Aircraft, while France, the State of Design and Manufacture of the engines has appointed an Accredited Representative, assisted by a Technical Adviser from SAFRAN, the engine manufacturer.”
He emphasized that the Underwater recovery of victims and wreckage was a significant project that required careful planning and provision of technology, expertise and substantial financial resources adding that, ” over sixty personnel were mobilized to the site including professional divers and other technical experts, marine vessels and diver boats equipped with sophisticated state-of–the-art gadgets for scanning the sea bed and tracking.”
He stated that out of 8 people on board the helicopter, 5 bodies identified to be of the deceased passengers have been recovered while effort to recover 1 passenger and 2 crew members is on – going. He informed that NSIB’s family assistance department in collaboration with the NCAA and NNPC have been mandated to work with the bereaved family members to bring them some comfort at this challenging period.
Signed
Odutayo Oluseyi
Head Press and Public Relations
