P.M. NEWS
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPCL, has confirmed that six of its staff were inside the helicopter that crashed after it took off from the Nigerian Air force base to an offshore oil platform, FPSO -Nuims ANTAN on Thursday morning in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Olufemi Soneye, the spokesperson for the NNPCL confirmed this in a statement he issued hours after the crash.
According to the statement, two crews members made up the eight people inside the helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation.
He said the Helicopter – Register Number: 5NBQG, engaged by NNPC Limited, took off from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN but contact was lost with it about 11.22 am.
“There were 8 persons on board (6 passengers and 2 crew members). The appropriate authorities have been contacted, including the Ministry of Aviation, who have since issued a press statement. Search and rescue missions are currently ongoing. So far, three (3) bodies have been recovered.
