Death toll at the Port Harcourt Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crash has been increased to five.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) disclosed this , saying that two more bodies have been recovered in addition to the three persons who have been previously confirmed dead.
Eight persons were said to be on board the aircraft when the incident happened.
Barely a day after the crash, the NSIB said more bodies have been recovered while three more persons remain unaccounted for.
NSIB Director General, Alex Badeh, who disclosed this on Thursday, said efforts are ongoing to recover on Friday. “There are three more down there that hopefully will be recovered today.”
When asked if there are chances that none of those on board the aircraft survived the crash, Badeh said, “Unfortunately. This time, that is the working theory”.
According to him, investigators are on their way to the scene of the accident, saying it would take days for the wreckage of the aircraft to be recovered.
He said, “The priority is to recover the rest of the bodies there” but there is a “chance” that some persons onboard the aircraft might be alive.
“Human beings are resilient. As long as they have their life support devices, there is a chance we might find survivors there,” Badeh said.
It will be recalled that the helicopter with registration 5NBQG operated by East Wind Aviation crashed one kilometre away from its destination. It was engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
It crashed around 11:22 am along the waterways in the Rivers State capital after taking off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
The cause of the incident is unclear as of now but Badeh said “there was light and moderate rain on their arrival and it was overcast. We would look into that. That might have a chance or a role to play.
“Other than that, I can’t really say until we recover the flight recorder and speak to more witnesses there.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered authorities to intensify their efforts in the rescue mission.
He also commiserated with the families of the victims and the NNPCL over the crash.
