Six days after a Sikorsky helicopter belonging to Eastwind Aviation plunged to the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima precisely on Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has pledged to continue the coordinated recovery operation and investigation into the crashed Sikorsky SK76 helicopter.
The accident occurred on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima and involved eight persons onboard.
In the latest statement issued by the Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the bureau declared:
“Below is a summary of updates from today’s operation: 07: 00 AM: Survey operations commenced, and divers entered the water to begin underwater search and recovery efforts.
“4:20 PM: A helicopter was dispatched to retrieve the fourth recovered body, which was transported to a designated facility
“5:30 PM: Search and rescue (SAR) operations were suspended for the day due to diminishing light, with plans to resume at first light tomorrow.
“The NSIB team, supported by the joint Search and Rescue team, will continue to sweep the search areas, intensifying recovery efforts.
“The NSIB is fully dedicated to the recovery effort and gathering crucial evidence from the scene. Despite challenging environmental conditions, the Bureau remains committed to completing a thorough and respectful recovery operation.”
Expressing his commitment to the search and rescue operation, the NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. remarked: “Our thoughts remain with the families of those affected by this tragic event. We are working tirelessly with our partners to bring the recovery operation to completion and to uncover the information needed to understand what transpired.
“We deeply appreciate the cooperation and resilience of our national and international partners as we navigate these challenging times together.”
The Bureau pledged dedication to transparency in its investigations and to promoting safety within Nigeria’s transportation sectors.
