BY Olapeju Olubi
In a major advancement towards resolving a tragic aviation accident, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), announced on Thursday, that the wreckage of the downed Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, with registration number 5N BQG, has been located by the allied search and recovery team.
The helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation and carrying eight passengers, went down in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.
The announcement, made through a statement by Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, highlighted the remarkable progress achieved.
The helicopter’s wreckage, she noted, was discovered in the late hours of Wednesday, during a coordinated recovery dive led by the expert team.
According to Oladeji, the site was identified approximately 0.775 nautical miles from the FPSO Adoon, at a depth of 42 meters. The coordinates of the wreckage were recorded as Latitude 04° 13.634′ N and Longitude 008° 19.442′ E.
“Efforts are currently underway for the recovery of the helicopter’s wreckage. The tail boom of the helicopter has already been successfully retrieved and lifted from the water today”, she explained.
NSIB’s Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., lauded the allied team and all partners involved, emphasizing the importance of this milestone.
“Locating the wreckage is a critical step in our mission to uncover the circumstances behind this tragic event.
“The dedication and cooperative spirit demonstrated by everyone involved have been exemplary, and we remain committed to a thorough investigation that will bring understanding and closure to the families of those impacted.”
The NSIB confirmed that the team is actively engaged in further recovery operations, with additional updates to follow as new information emerges.
