A viral video has surfaced, allegedly showing the recovery of the bodies of some Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited staff from the ocean.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday when a helicopter carrying NNPC personnel crashed into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 operated by East Winds Aviation, had departed from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) and was en route to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye confirmed that the helicopter was chartered by NNPC Limited and provided details of the crash, which happened at 11:22 a.m. in the Port Harcourt waterways.
The crash prompted a swift response from emergency services, with rescue operations currently underway.
Odutayo Oluseyi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, reported that eight individuals were confirmed on board at the time of the accident.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that all eight passengers on board had been confirmed dead.
In a viral video, sailors could be seen allegedly evacuating the remains of the NNPCL staff to a waiting helicopter.
