All 8 passengers in Bonny chopper disaster feared dead — Police

The Eastwind Aviation chopper fell into the Bonny River in Rivers State Wednesday, killing all eight people on board.The chopper crashed on its way from Port Harcourt Military Base to FPSO NUIM ANTAN (offshore Calabar). It was carrying eight people: six passengers and two crewmembers. The Rivers State Police Command announced that all eight people on board the chopper that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean were killed. Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command's Police Public Relations Officer, issued the following statement in Port Harcourt yesterday: "The Rivers State Police Command regrets to inform the public of an unfortunate occurrence that occurred today, at 11 a.m. "

Mr. Ifeanyi Udogwu, an employee of Antan Producing Limited in Port Harcourt, reported to the Command that a helicopter with the call sign 5N-BQG (S76C+) belonging to East Wing Aviation had departed from the NAF Base in Port Harcourt. The flight was destined for Nuim Antan OML123 fields, with two crew members and six passengers. "Unfortunately, around 11 a.m., the helicopter reportedly crashed into the ocean near Antan Producing Limited's Mimbo platform and FPSO." All eight people onboard are feared dead.The Rivers State Police Command's Marine Division is working with other authorities to locate and recover the aircraft and its passengers. "The Rivers State Police Command sends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the unfortunate events.The aviation ministry confirmed the crash. The event was confirmed in a statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Meanwhile, Vanguard learnt that the oil workers were contract employees of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, or NNPCL. The aviation ministry confirmed the crash. The event was confirmed in a statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.According to the statement, three bodies have been discovered from the wrecked helicopter, and search and rescue operations are continue to locate the remaining passengers. "It stated that the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 registered 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was flying from Port Harcourt Military Base, DNPM, to the Nuimantan Oil Rig. "The aircraft, which had eight people on board, crashed near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. "The National Safety Investigation Bureau, or NSIB, was contacted, and emergency reaction teams were promptly activated.The Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and other relevant agencies are all assisting with search and rescue operations. Neighbouring aerodromes have also been contacted for assistance. "Although no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, manual efforts to determine the position of the accident are ongoing. "And all available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to help find and rescue any survivors." "So far, three bodies have been recovered," the statement said.