USA, France join to examine crashed helicopter wreckage – FG

The Federal Government says it has enlisted the services of aviation experts from the United States of America and France to examine the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean last month.

It also confirmed the successful retrieval of the wreckage after an intensive eight-day search.

The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter with registration number 5N-BQG crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.

The helicopter, which is operated by Eastwind Aviation, had six passengers and two crew members on board at the time of the accident.

So far, five bodies have been found, while three bodies are still missing.

At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, explained that the United States and France would also collaborate with Nigeria in the investigation, as the aircraft was designed and manufactured in the USA and its engine was produced in France.

According to Keyamo, “The NTSB is an accredited representative of the NTSB in America, assisted by a technical advisor, nominated by Sikorsky Aircrafts.

“Meanwhile, France, as a state of design and manufacturer of the engines, has appointed an accredited representative, assisted by a technical advisor from Safran, the engine manufacturer. So the engine was also manufactured in France.”

He outlined the coordinated effort that led to the transportation of the wreckage from the collection site.

“On Saturday, the 9th of November, the wreckage departed the collection site on a ferry. It arrived at the airport on the evening of Sunday, the 10th of November.

“After completing the formalities at the port, the wreckage was loaded on a low-bed truck on Monday, the 11th of November, and it’s on its way to Abuja,” he said.

“Principally, the NSIB must take possession of that wreckage,” he added, clarifying that the National Safety Investigation Bureau would be conducting the core examination.

Keyamo added that the NSIB will examine maintenance and certification records for the helicopter, alongside the crew’s training and medical records.

Keyamo further commended the various aviation agencies for their cooperation. “All the agencies of aviation, NCAA, NAMA, and NIMET  are all cooperating with the NSIB. We are running all of them together as one because they are all the aviation agencies administering to cooperate on this issue,” he said.

The minister also confirmed that the flight recorder, or black box, had already reached Abuja.

“Our specialists picked the flight recorder and brought it to Abuja last night. So the record at the black box arrived in Abuja just last night,” he said.

This crucial component will play a significant role in helping investigators understand the events leading to the crash.

The NSIB, working with both local and international aviation agencies, has launched a comprehensive investigation.

“Our objective is to conduct a thorough investigation using available techniques to find a safety issue or recommend a safety change to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” Keyamo stated.

The investigation will consider multiple factors, including “the roles of man, machine, and the environment that might have directly or indirectly contributed to this accident.”

The minister assured the public that an initial report would be released soon. “We will publish the preliminary report on the NSIB website within 30 days,” Keyamo said, explaining that a full report with possible safety recommendations could take up to a year or more to complete.

On a compassionate note, Keyamo added that the NSIB’s family assistance department, working with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, would provide support to the victims’ families. “If you look at the law, it is the primary responsibility of the NSIB to institute a family support program anytime you have such accidents,” he said, underscoring the importance of offering comfort to the bereaved.

As the investigation unfolds, the Ministry of Aviation and NSIB has committed to keeping the public informed.

“We felt it was appropriate to let the public know how far we have come, what we have done so far in respect of this,” Keyamo concluded.