NEWS RELEASE

OCTOBER 28, 2024 BRIEFING: UPDATE ON HELICOPTER DITCHING INCIDENT NEAR BONNY FINIMA

[Abuja, Nigeria, October 28, 2024]

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) continued the coordinated recovery operation and investigation into the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter ditching incident involving registration 5N BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation. The incident occurred on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima and involved eight persons onboard.
Below is a summary of updates from today’s operation:
• 07: 00 AM: Survey operations commenced, and divers entered the water to begin underwater search and recovery efforts.
• 4:20 PM: A helicopter was dispatched to retrieve the fourth recovered body, which was transported to a designated facility
• 5:30 PM: Search and rescue (SAR) operations were suspended for the day due to diminishing light, with plans to resume at first light tomorrow. The NSIB team, supported by the joint Search and Rescue team, will continue to sweep the search areas, intensifying recovery efforts.
The NSIB is fully dedicated to the recovery effort and gathering crucial evidence from the scene. Despite challenging environmental conditions, the Bureau remains committed to completing a thorough and respectful recovery operation.
Expressing his commitment to the search and rescue operation, NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. stated, “Our thoughts remain with the families of those affected by this tragic event. We are working tirelessly with our partners to bring the recovery operation to completion and to uncover the information needed to understand what transpired. We deeply appreciate the cooperation and resilience of our national and international partners as we navigate these challenging times together.”
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau remains dedicated to transparency in its investigations and to promoting safety within Nigeria’s transportation sectors.

Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance,
Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau

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About NSIB: The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is the multimodal transport agency charged with the mandate of promoting transport safety and conducting objective, thorough, and accurate investigations into transport accidents and incidents in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the probable causes and advocating for safety improvements based on our findings.

For further enquiries or media requests, please contact NSIB through info@nsib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.

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