Decomposed body recovered six days after Port Harcourt helicopter crash

Six days after a tragic helicopter crash in Port Harcourt, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has reported the recovery of one more body.

The NSIB noted that one of the bodies required special handling due to decomposition before it could be transferred to the morgue.

The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5NBQG, was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig when it crashed last Thursday, killing all eight passengers and crew on board.

Initially, four bodies were recovered, with search teams continuing their efforts to locate the remaining victims.

The NSIB has been coordinating with local authorities and specialized teams to complete the search and recovery mission.

In clarifying a statement shared with Vanguard, NSIB official Solomon Adetokunbo explained: “Four bodies were previously recovered, while five more bodies were found today. The bodies recovered today have not been identified, so it’s unclear if all were from the helicopter.”

Meanwhile, the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, shared that “five bodies were located and recovered today; one required specialized handling due to decomposition before being sent to the morgue.”

Further updates included:

09:35 AM: The HD Steadfast vessel identified a body in the water. Recovery began using the Fast Rescue Craft (FRC).

09:40 AM: Antan HSE and Security teams were alerted to plan for evacuation.

09:55 AM: Eastwind Aviation was contacted to explore air ambulance support from Caverton Aviation.

10:40 AM: HD Steadfast deployed a drone for an extended aerial search of the area.

10:45 AM: Rough sea conditions hindered the FRC crew’s recovery. The team coordinated with HD Steadfast to safely retrieve the body with a crane, despite poor weather.

10:49 AM: Upon notification that air ambulance providers were unavailable, the NSIB requested logistical support from the Nigerian Navy.

11:15 AM: The FRC successfully retrieved the body and prepared it for transfer to the FPSO deck.

11:41 AM: The identification process began; while no clothing was found, investigators examined specific features for identity confirmation.

12:49 PM: The Nigerian Navy was contacted to assist with body evacuation.

1:08 PM: Eastwind Aviation provided crew photographs to aid identification, shared with the field superintendent and Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) for verification.

2:44 PM: A mortician arrived at the Nigerian Air Force base and was escorted to the Navy base by the Antan Flight Coordinator to prepare for transporting the remains.

8:00 PM: Divers found fragments of clean fiberglass and aluminum, likely from the helicopter. These findings will adjust the search grid, allowing NSIB to intensify recovery efforts near the accident site.

Divers have continued searching the seabed, sweeping the suspected crash location based on tidal flow calculations. Initial findings suggest the helicopter entered the water approximately 1,850 meters west of the first recovery site. The search has since shifted closer to the FPSO, where beacon signals were last detected.

Search Area Expansion: The NSIB has deployed two vessels with side-scan sonar to broaden the search area, with four additional sonar units arriving from Port Harcourt to be deployed tomorrow morning, enhancing search coverage.