The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) confirmed Sunday that five people remain missing following Thursday’s helicopter crash, refuting claims that additional bodies were recovered. Only three bodies were initially found after the East Wind Aviation helicopter, carrying NNPC personnel and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, the company clarified that reports of two further body recoveries on Friday were inaccurate. Soneye stated, “Beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.”
The East Wind Aviation helicopter, registered as 5NBQG, was en route to the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility at NUIMS Antan when it went down. Onboard were six NNPC officials, two crew members, and an eighth person whose identity has not yet been confirmed. Among those identified on the electronic manifest are Tamunoemi Suku, Alu Lawrence, Etim Emmanuel, Kenneth Chikwem, Frank Oriamre, and Borris Ndorbo. The pilot, identified as Captain Yakubu Dukas, was confirmed to be leading the crew on the ill-fated flight.
Efforts to locate the wreckage and the missing individuals are ongoing. According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), no additional debris has yet been discovered despite coordinated search and rescue efforts by NNPC and relevant aviation authorities. NNPC confirmed it is working alongside the NSIB and other agencies to intensify these operations.
Soneye expressed condolences to the families impacted by the crash, saying, “Our hearts and prayers are with the families affected by this unfortunate incident. NNPC remains committed to supporting ongoing search efforts to recover the missing individuals.”
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have urged caution on speculations until further updates are provided by NNPC and the NSIB.
