Olusegun Ariyo
The Rivers State Police Command has said all passengers on board the Eastwind Aviation helicopter that crashed into Bonny River, in Rivers State on Thursday May have died.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko made the assertion in a statement on Thursday night.
The helicopter, conveying eight persons including six passengers and two crew members, crashed from Port Harcourt Military base to FPSO NUIM ANTAN (offshore Calabar).
Confirming the incident, the PPRO said the ill-fated helicopter ditched into the ocean near Antan Producing Limited’s Mimbo platform and FPSO at about 11 am.
It was gathered that the helicopter with the call sign number 5N-BQG (S76C+) and belonging to East Wing Aviation, departed from the Nigerian Air Force Base in Port Harcourt before the incident occurred.
“The Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command is 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”, the statement added.
