Helicopter Crashed Into Lagos Lagoon

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

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 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 Adebay, “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.

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.