No additional bodies have been found at the site of Thursday’s crash involving the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This is according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In its latest update on Sunday, the NNPCL spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said search and rescue operations by the relevant authorities at the site, continue.
Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, said about five bodies are still missing.
“The NNPC Ltd wishes to announce that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered,” the statement read.
“The Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing. Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident.”
Earlier, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said that additional diving equipment and resources will be deployed to aid in the continuation of these efforts.
So far, five bodies have been recovered while three more persons remain unaccounted for.
The agency had on Friday explained that search operations were suspended at approximately 6:15 PM due to diminishing daylight. It said that unfortunately, no debris, survivors, or bodies were recovered during the day’s search.
The statement signed by NSIB’s spokesperson, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, however, noted that the divers successfully established a secured diving perimeter at an expected location of the wreck, which will guide the operations planned for Saturday.
The perimeter depth, according to the statement, has been measured at 40-50 meters.
The crash happened around 11:22 am on Thursday near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Port Harcourt.
Eight persons (six passengers and two crew members) were on board the aircraft when the incident happened.