Bristow helicopter marked N5BQJ yesterday landed on the high sea off Ondo State, with the 11 passengers on board rescued.
The chopper, which was coming from Bonny Island in Rivers State, made an emergency landing at about 136.70 nautical miles, approximately 254km inward Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) spokesman Tunji Oketunbi confirmed the crash in a short message service (SMS).
It was learnt that the plane fell into the water around 9:20am.
Associated Press (AP) reported that all the passengers, including two crew members, who were on life raft, were rescued from the lagoon near the traffic-choked Third Mainland Bridge, between the Mainland and Victoria Island.
The Nation gathered that the co-pilot, a woman, suffered dislocation; the pilot and others had injuries.
It was learnt that the helicopter developed a fault mid-air, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Latitude 05.49.39m north and Longitude 004.17.041m east.
Those on board were said to have floated on water, making it easy for a nearby Merchant Vessel, MV DIJAMA, to sight and rescue them.
Emergency teams of Shell, Mobil, Agip, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nigerian Navy (NN), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) participated in the swift rescue operation which took about 90 minutes.
Efforts are on to recover the chopper’s debris.
Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Ralph Osondu said MV DIJAMA launched two of its boats to rescue the passengers.
“MV DIJAMA was the first to get to the scene. It happened 40 nautical miles from Igbokoda, Ondo State. The helicopter had nine passengers and two crew members.
“All were rescued alive and handed over to a speedboat, SURFER P2621, which took them ashore to the nearest hospital (in Ondo State),” he said.
LASEMA General Manager Michael Akindele said three RRS search and rescue helicopters were sent to the scene.
He attributed the operation’s success to the recent air simulation organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Lagos, praising all the stakeholders for their prompt response.
“The helicopter ditched inside the ocean. However, 11 souls on board are alive and there is no casualty. We appreciate the support of Agip, Mobil and Shell oil companies in the provision of speed boat. Bristol Helicopter also provided landing boat for the evacuation of the survivors.
“The survivors were rescued because there was adherence in the use of life jacket. The success of this is attributed to the will of God 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,” he said.
Ditching in aviation par lance is when an aircraft plunges into water during an emergency.
Oketumbi said AIB has launched a probe into the crash.
The chopper, an S76 C ++ helicopter fell into the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles to its destination around 10.20 am.
Oketumbi said: “A S76 C++ helicopter marked 5N-BQJ belonging to Bristow Helicopters, which departed ERHA Platform en route Lagos ditched into the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles into destination at about 10:20am local time.
“All the eleven souls on board including two crew members were rescued alive. Accident Investigation Bureau AIB has commenced investigation into the occurrence. Details will be communicated to you later.”
Last August 12, a Bristow Helicopter aircraft with 12 passengers on board, crashed into the Oworoshoki end of the Lagos Lagoon. Four persons died in the accident.
The helicopter was on the way to an oil rig when it crashed.
Experts are raising concerns about the recurring accidents involving the S76 C ++ helicopter type flown by Bristow.
Helicopters have been involved in a series of crashes in the country.
On February 24, 1991, a British Helicopter crashed in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, killing the nine people on board.
On July 26, 2004, a Pan African Airlines’ helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in Escravos, Delta State, killing the four people on board.
On, November 10, 2006, OAS Service Helicopter crashed in Warri, Delta State, also killing the four persons on board.
On March 14, 2012, a helicopter belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF) crashed in Kabong, Jos, killing those onboard, including four senior police officers.
There was also crash involving a Bristow helicopter in July 14, 2011 in Port Harcourt.
