The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, Friday, disclosed that two more bodies had been found as the search for survivors in the NNPCL-chartered helicopter continues.
This was revealed by NSIB Director General, Mr. Alex Badeh, in an interview on Channels Television’s flagship breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Thursday, with eight persons on board. With five bodies recovered, three people are yet to be accounted for.
Though rescue efforts continue, and chances of survival diminish each hour, Badeh still kept hope alive saying human endurance has sustaining power.
“We have recovered two more bodies, making it a total of five. There are three more down there that hopefully will be recovered today,” the NSIB Director General said.
And when asked if there were are chances that none of those on board the aircraft survived, Badeh responded: “Unfortunately. this time, that is the working theory”.
He, however, tried to keep hope alive, saying: “Human beings are resilient. As long as they have their life support devices, there is a chance we might find survivors there.”
On the possibility of finding the wreckage as well as the flight recorder, Badeh said it might take some days, perhaps weeks, but assured that investigators were on their way to the scene of the accident.
“The priority is to recover the rest of the bodies there,” he added, as there was a “chance” that the remaining three persons onboard the aircraft might be alive.
The helicopter, operated by East Wind Aviation with registration number 5NBQG, came down at about 11.22a.m. on Thursday, shortly after take-off from the Military Base (DNPM) in Port Harcourt en route FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
The ill-fated helicopter was hired by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL.
Thea cause of the accident was hazy at press time but Badeh told his interviewers that “there was so light and moderate rain on their arrival and there was an overcast. We would look into that. That might have a chance or a role to play.
“Other than that, I can’t really say until we recover the flight recorder and speak to more witnesses there.”