Kehinde Fajobi
The Federal Government has enlisted aviation experts from the United States and France to assist in investigating the recent helicopter crash that occurred off the coast of Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.
The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5N-BQG and operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean with six passengers and two crew members on board.
Five bodies have been recovered, while three remain missing.
At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that the helicopter wreckage had been retrieved following an intensive eight-day search.
He explained that experts from both the U.S. and France would collaborate with Nigeria on the investigation since the helicopter was designed in the U.S. and its engine manufactured in France.
“The NTSB is an accredited representative of the NTSB in America, assisted by a technical advisor nominated by Sikorsky Aircraft.
“Meanwhile, France, as the state of design and manufacturer of the engines, has appointed an accredited representative, assisted by a technical advisor from Safran, the engine manufacturer,” Keyamo said.
Keyamo provided a timeline for the wreckage’s transportation, explaining, “On Saturday, November 9, the wreckage departed the collection site on a ferry and arrived at the airport on Sunday, November 10. After completing the formalities at the port, the wreckage was loaded onto a low-bed truck on Monday, November 11, and is now on its way to Abuja. Principally, the NSIB must take possession of that wreckage.”
The Minister noted that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) will review the helicopter’s maintenance and certification records, as well as the training and medical records of the crew.
He commended the cooperation among aviation agencies involved, saying, “All the agencies of aviation — NCAA, NAMA, and NIMET — are all cooperating with the NSIB. We are running all of them together as one because they are all aviation agencies administering to cooperate on this issue.”
Keyamo confirmed that the flight recorder, or black box, has already arrived in Abuja and will play a crucial role in reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the crash.
The NSIB, in coordination with both local and international agencies, has launched a comprehensive investigation.
“Our objective is to conduct a thorough investigation using available techniques to find a safety issue or recommend a safety change to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” he stated.
Keyamo noted that the investigation will consider all relevant factors, including “the roles of man, machine, and the environment that might have directly or indirectly contributed to this accident.”
The Minister promised that a preliminary report would be available soon, saying, “We will publish the preliminary report on the NSIB website within 30 days,” while a full report may take up to a year to complete.
Keyamo also assured that families of the victims would receive support through the NSIB’s family assistance department, in collaboration with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
“If you look at the law, it is the primary responsibility of the NSIB to institute a family support program anytime there is such an accident,” he said.