The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd on Sunday confirmed that no other bodies have been recovered following the helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Chronicle NG reported on Thursday that NNPC confirmed the recovery of three bodies from the crash.
The aircraft, operated by East Winds Aviation, went down with multiple occupants, and search and rescue efforts remain in full force to locate any remaining bodies in coordination with relevant authorities.
NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, expressed the company’s deep condolences, offering thoughts and prayers to the families affected by the tragedy.
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.
