Lagos-bound helicopter ‘crashes into the ocean’

A helicopter belonging to Bristow Group crashed on Wednesday while heading to Lagos from Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, but it has been confirmed that no one died in the incident.

Adebayo Kehinde, public relations officer of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the crash to TheCable but did not give details intially.

The Accident Investigative Bureau (AIB) said there were nine passengers and two crew members on board the aircraft with registration number: N5BQJ.

However, Michael Akindele, LASEMA’s general manager, said no life was lost in the incident.

“The helicopter ditched inside the ocean, however all the 11 persons on board are alive,” he said.

“Agip, Mobil and Shell oil companies provided speed boats, while Bristow Helicopter also provided landing boat for the evacuation of the survivors.

“Their survival is in adherence to the use of life jacket and the recently conducted emergency preparedness simulation of air crash by NEMA,  LASEMA and other stakeholders.

“Further investigation on the crash will be looked into by the relevant authorities.”

Consultant to Bristow claimed that the incident was not a crash but a controlled ditch. Control ditch is an action that a pilot takes when he notices that something is wrong.

The incident comes five months after a Bristow helicopter with 12 people on board crashed into a lagoon at the Oworonshoki axis of the third mainland bridge in Lagos, killing six people.