The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced that four of its members died in the helicopter crash in Rivers State.
The crash occured in Port Harcourt, through a helicopter, operated by EastWind Aviation Limited.
It crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, around 11:22am.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, had confirmed it hired the ill-fated copter which crashed on its way from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Port Harcourt to the national oil company’s floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility.
Before the incident, it was carrying six passengers and two crew members.
According to the ministry of aviation and aerospace development, three persons died in the crash.
It would recalled that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said two more bodies were recovered from the helicopter crash site.
In a statement on Friday, Festus Osifo, president of PENGASSAN, said the association “extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims during this difficult time.”
“We share in their grief and offer our unwavering support, as we navigate this tragic event. We are committed to providing assistance to the bereaved families in any way possible.”
“PENGASSAN calls on all its members everywhere, through the branches, to observe a moment of silence and reflection in honor of our fallen Comrades,” Osifo said.
“Their dedication and service to the Oil and Gas industry will never be forgotten.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that 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 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 had said that the Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command was 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.