Nigeria's Ministry Of Aviation Says 4 Oil Workers Died In Lagos Bristow Helicopter Crash

The Ministry of Aviation has confirmed that four persons died in Wednesday’s helicopter crash in Lagos.

Hajia Binta Adamu Bello (M), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation being briefed by officials from LASEMA near the scene of the crashMinistry of Aviation

An official statement signed by Permanent Secretary Binta Adamu Bello said the helicopter, Registration number 5NBGD operated by Bristow Helicopters, with 12 persons aboard, had taken off from the SEDCO oil platform offshore.  

It established contact with Lagos control tower at 1425UTC, and estimated its arrival in Lagos to be about 10 minutes later at 1435UTC.

The helicopter was subsequently reported missing, Ms. Bello said in the statement, which appeared to have been drafted when the helicopter was first reported to be missing, and subsequently updated but not rewritten.   She added that Search and Rescue operations were being coordinated by the Lagos Rescue Coordination Centre with other agencies that included NCAA, AIB, NEMA and SEMA. 

She said that at 1543UTC, a “sister helicopter” with registration number 5NBQJ located the crash site at Oworonshoki in Lagos.

“As at the time of writing, 6 persons have been rescued alive, 4 confirmed dead and 2 unaccounted for.”

She identified the crashed craft as a Russian Sikosky 76 Helicopter.  

Earlier today, the press in Lagos reported that the two bodies that were unaccounted for on Wednesday had been recovered.