The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, on Thursday, assured of speedy investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the crash of a Bristow Sikosky 76 helicopter with registration number 5NBGD at the Oworoshoki area of the Lagos lagoon, on Wednesday.

According to a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, she made the pledge while on a visit to the crash site, on Thursday.

The ministry’s statement however, noted that Bello also commended the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other emergency management agencies, for their quick response in the rescue effort.

“The Permanent Secretary also led a team of Aviation Ministry officials and Chief Executives of the aviation agencies to pay solidarity visit to the victims of the crash, who are being treated in an undisclosed hospital.”

The statement added Bello’s regret for the loss of some passengers on board the ill-fated helicopter flight.

In a related development, the two remaining persons on board the ill-fated helicopter have been recovered.

The victims, who were fished out of the lagoon by the emergency management agencies and local divers at about 10.30am, had, however, died.

The bodies were identified as that of the pilot and his assistant, Captain Joseph Wyatt from Oklahoma, USA and First Officer Peter Bello.

 According to a statement signed by Bristow’s Regional Director Africa, Duncan Moore, “Captain Wyatt, joined the company in 2006 and has spent his entire career flying with Bristow Helicopters out of Africa.

“Peter Bello joined Bristow in 2014 after graduating from the company’s Academy’s helicopter flight school. May their souls rest in peace, amen.”

‎ Meanwhile, CEOAficagathered that Oba Basiru Oloruntoyin Saliu, the oba of Oworonshoki, where the helicopter crash happened in Lagos, says the crash was caused by the neglect of tradition by the government, which is necessary to prevent such occurrences. For instance, how many times have we appeased the goddess this year? An occurrence like this may be caused by the goddess because no human being can depict the depth of the lagoon; but if the goddess is appeased, she would have prevented such occurrence.” he said