The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) seems to be pulling every string it can, but after more than 48 hours, there’s still no sign of the missing Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, its wreckage, or the three people yet unaccounted for. The situation has drawn widespread attention and frustration, as search teams continue to scour the crash zone around Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with very little to show for their efforts.
In a statement released Saturday, Bimbo Oladeji, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, noted that as of 7:30 a.m. that morning, rescue teams resumed search operations. And yet, despite these best-practice procedures, neither debris nor any survivors have surfaced. The NSIB has since widened the search area in hopes of turning up any sign of the downed helicopter.
To recap, the incident involves a Sikorsky SK76 chopper, registered as 5NBQG and operated by Eastwind Aviation, which went down Thursday en route to the FPSO Nuims Antan facility. Onboard were eight people, six passengers and two crew members, none of whom have been found. As questions mount, so does the urgency of finding any clue about what happened to this flight.
NSIB investigators and officials from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development arrived at the FPSO facility on Saturday morning, interviewing staff and collecting data relevant to the investigation. By evening, they wrapped up without answers or solid leads. At around 6:15 p.m., search operations were halted due to diminishing daylight, and so far, no wreckage, survivors, or bodies have been recovered.
The NSIB’s investigative team managed to set up a secured diving perimeter where they suspect the wreck might be located, marking a depth of 40-50 meters. The team announced that additional equipment and resources will be deployed to continue the search tomorrow.
Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh, acknowledged the “tireless efforts” of the rescue teams and other supporting agencies, expressing appreciation for their dedication and assuring that the search would continue with every available resource.
