NSIB: Search Teams Recover Fifth Body from Rivers Helicopter Crash Site

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has announced the recovery of a fifth body from the site of the recent helicopter crash in Rivers state.

The helicopter, operated by East Wind Aviation on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, crashed on October 24 while en route from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Port Harcourt.

The aircraft, carrying eight people—six passengers and two crew members—went down in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off Calabar’s coast, around 11:22 a.m. Two bodies were recovered the day following the crash.

In a Wednesday statement, NSIB spokesperson Bimbo Oladeji said recovery operations and investigations remain ongoing. She noted that the fifth body, found on Wednesday, required special handling due to its decomposed state.

NSIB Director-General Alex Badeh emphasised the bureau’s commitment to working with national and international partners to ensure a thorough recovery and investigation.

“The recovery operation presents unique challenges due to the environmental conditions, but our team and partners are dedicated to bringing this mission to completion with utmost professionalism and care,” he said.

“We are grateful for the coordinated support from everyone involved in this recovery effort, including the Nigerian Navy, in ensuring a respectful recovery process. Our primary objective remains to uncover information that will fully explain the circumstances of this accident, and our thoughts continue to be with the families affected.”

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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