Helicopter crash, 4 fear dead

By Jimoh Babatunde, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Lawani Mikairu, Bose Adelaja, Daniel Eteghe & Richard Udofia

LAGOS—A helicopter belonging to Bristow Helicopters with 12 people on board, yesterday, crashed into

the Lagoon near the Oworonsoki end of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

According to an eyewitness, the aircraft, marked 5NBGD  was said to be coming from one of the oil rigs in the Escravos area of Delta  State and was said to be heading to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja when it went down around 3.p.m.

According to reports, three of those on board were confirmed dead, while six others, who were rescued, were moved to the nearby Gbagada General Hospital and a private hospital.

The crash occurred at the back of Oworonsoki Police Station after a loud bang was heard from the helicopter. The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, its Lagos State counterpart, LASEMA, and policemen were said to have embarked on rescue operations immediately after the crash.

According to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Oworonshoki, Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Chijioke Nduka, who led officers to the scene to rescue victims, there was a loud sound from the aircraft before the crash. He said more officers including the Area Commander, Ikeja Command, were at the scene assisting operatives of NEMA in the rescue operations.

To make rescue operations easier, routes to the site of the crash were cordoned off.

Director of Fire Services, Lagos State, Mr, Rasaq Fadipe and Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Kehinde Adebayo, confirmed the incident when contacted.

According to Fadipe, the number of casualties could not be ascertained at press time but rescue operation was still on-going.

“We are on ground, the fire has been put out while further rescue operation is still on-going. We will give details later,” Fadipe said.

Adebayo, in his comment said, LASEMA upon receipt of distress call raced to the scene and immediately commenced rescue operation.

According to him: “Three bodies were recovered from the debris of the crash while two that were also rescued were rushed to hospital for prompt medical attention.

The immediate or remote cause(s) of the crash, at press time could not be ascertained but it was gathered that the chopper  went down, as smoke was seen trailing it before if finally came crashing.

How it happened — Witness

Rescue operations, however, continued at the site of the crash as local fishermen were being joined by NEMA officials combing the lagoon for the remaining bodies.

The bodies of the dead three were conveyed by an ambulance of State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit with Lagos number SMK 303BK at about 6.15pm.

A resident who witnessed the plunging of the chopper into the lagoon said the pilot did well to prevent land casualties as the chopper almost landed on a church close to the Oworonsoki Police Station on Atanda Street.

Alfa Rasaq Bolaji, an eye witness said he was inside when children on the street, who saw the way the chopper was wobbling in the sky started shouting.

“It was their shout that brought me out only for the chopper to crash into the sea. I believe most of the dead were killed by the blades of the chopper as those who were rescued had cuts from the blades on their bodies”.

LASEMA confirmed that four bodies, all male, have been recovered so far, while six victims were rescued. Four of the rescued victims were said to be in stable condition and responding to treatment at Ggbagada General Hospital while two others are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Oworonsoki.

Rescue team, including local divers, at press time were still in search of two persons, but it was gathered that the possibility of recovering the victims alive was slim because of the number of hours spent underwater.

It was gathered that the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, immediately ordered that the survivors be given adequate medical treatment as the state government will pay all medical bills incurred in the process.

Attempts to speak with survivors was thwarted by medical staff and security operatives because they were said to be in a state of shock.

Names of six survivors

The suvivors were named as Solomon Ude, Joshua Emekema, Chukwudi Onah, Dolu Epiejura, Ononode Ojeite and Iniala Opaimi

The incident led to a heavy traffic gridlock on the Third Mainland Bridge. Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, however, diverted traffic to other link bridges, Carter and Eko bridges to ease off the attendant gridlock on Third Mainland Bridge which was cordoned off to make rescue operations easier.

NCAA confirms crash

Reacting to the accident, the regulatory agency, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said contrary to earlier reports that there were four people on board the crashed helicopter, the actual number of people on board the chopper was 12, including the crew.

According to Mr Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, “A Bristow Helicopter with registration number 5N – BDG – 760540 from one of the nation’s oil rigs crashed at Oworonsoki in Lagos this evening.

“The helicopter scheduled to arrive Lagos 3.35 pm had 12 souls on board including the crew. However, the number of casualties is yet to be determined.”

Officials of the Accident Investigation Bureau was heard by Vanguard asking the Bristow Helicopters  safety officer to get all information about the chopper and the pilot ready for them.

The Bristow official said they have them ready for the aviation industry investigators.

AIB commences investigations

Spokesman of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Mr Tunji Oketunbi has also confirmed that the bureau has commenced investigation into the crash. In a text message to Vanguard, yesterday, Mr Oketunbi said: “Investigation has commenced with AIB Commissioner, Dr Felix Abali leading the team. 12 souls were believed to be on board. There were casualties and survivors. It was Britow’s helicopter on approach to land in Lagos”.

Mood at Bristow Helicopters at Lagos airport

The mood at the  headquarters of Bristow Helicopters at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos was that of bereavement as most of the staff of the company were talking about the crash, as they made their way home after the close of work.

Efforts made by Vanguard to get information from the Managing Director of the airline, Captain Akin Oni, proved abortive. However, the Public Relations Consultant to the company, Mr. Cornelius Onuoha, told Vanguard that he was busy preparing a press statement which was not ready at press time.

Crashed caused by neglect of tradition – Monarch

The Traditional ruler of Oworonsoki, Oba Basiru Oloruntoyin Saliu, who spoke to Vanguard in a telephone conversation said as soon as the incident occurred, he deployed all his chiefs and princes to the scene to assist in the rescue operation.

Oba Basiru also lamented total collapse of traditional rites in the area, saying this may be responsible for yesterday’s incident. “The government no longer pays attention to traditional rites which is necessary to prevent such occurrences. For instance, how many times have we appeased the goddess this year?

“An occurrence like this may be caused by the goddess because no human being can depict the depth of the lagoon; but if the goddess is appeased, she would have prevented such occurrence.”

Staff of Indigo Drill Nig. Ltd on board

Meanwhile, a report on the crash by LASWAwater guard confirmed that the passengers on board the crashed helicopter were staff of Indigo Drill Nigeria Limited an offshore drilling company.

The report was issued by the Managing Director of LASWAwater guard, Mr Yinka Marinho.

The latest crash is coming barely four years after the airline’s helicopter crashed in Port Harcourt. It will be recalled that a Bristow Helicopter with registration 5N-BMM  crashed at Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) on July 14, 2011.

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) had said that investigation carried out on the crash revealed that the two pilots in the cockpit were captains and were paired despite the fact that the airline has no pairing policy.

About the crashed helicopter

Investigation revealed that the aircraft said to be Sikorsky S-76 and Sikorsky S-92, were among the brands of helicopters in the fleet of Bristow.  According to one of the Pilots of the airline, the ill-fated plane might have been an either of the models.

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