Update: All Eight Passengers In Rivers Helicopter Crash Confirmed Dead – Nigerian Police Says

The Rivers State Police Command has said that all eight occupants of an Eastwind Aviation helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday are feared died.

The crash occurred over the Bonny River, near Rivers State, and involved six passengers and two crew members aboard the helicopter.

The ill-fated helicopter was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the offshore facility, FPSO NUIM ANTAN, located off the coast of Calabar.

The cause of the crash, which took place at around 11 a.m., is still under investigation.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, confirmed the fatalities and expressed the command’s deep regret in a statement.

“The Rivers State Police Command regrets to inform the public of a tragic incident that occurred today, resulting in the loss of all lives aboard the helicopter.

The statement reads, “Mr Ifeanyi Udogwu, a staff of Antan Producing Limited, Port Harcourt, reported to the Command that a helicopter with the call sign number 5N-BQG (S76C+), belonging to East Wing Aviation, departed from the NAF Base in Port Harcourt. The flight was bound for Nuim Antan OML123 fields, carrying two crew members and six passengers.

“Unfortunately, about 11a.m., the helicopter reportedly ditched into the ocean near Antan Producing Limited’s Mimbo platform and FPSO. All eight persons onboard are feared dead.

“The Police Public Relations Officer said that the Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command is cooperating with other agencies to recover the aircraft and the occupants.

“The Rivers State Police Command extends its deepest condolences to the families of the tragic times,” Iringe-Koko added.

On Thursday, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited had confirmed that the helicopter involved in a crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was heading to its floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) facility.