The Rivers State Police Command has reported that all eight passengers aboard the helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt on Thursday are likely deceased.
Initially, three fatalities were confirmed.
The incident occurred at 11:22 a.m. when a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
According to Odutayo Oluseyi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, there were eight individuals on board.
The helicopter went down in the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting authorities to initiate rescue operations.
However, in a recent update, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer SP Grace Iringe-Koko stated that it is feared all passengers may have perished in the tragedy.
This update follows an order from President Bola Tinubu for an intensified search and the involvement of military resources in the recovery efforts.
