Bristow Helicopters has given official details of the accident involving one of its aircraft today, saying the helicopter actually landed on water.
In their statement, the company said the helicopter got involved in water landing in Lagos while returning from an offshore platform.
The statement said the nine passengers on board and a crew of two “are accounted for and in the process of being transferred to a nearby installation”.
The statement said, ” Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) Limited, confirmed today that one of its helicopters, was involved in a water landing near Lagos at about 10.25 a.m. local time on return from an offshore platform.
“The aircraft, a Sikorsky S-76C++, had departed on a routine crew transfer flight offshore with nine passengers and a crew of two.
“All persons onboard are accounted for and in the process of being transferred to a nearby installation.
“The company is in the process of collecting pertinent information and will release more details as soon as it is available.”
The Accident Investigations Bureau had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that crew members and passengers aboard the helicopter survived the accident.
Tunji Oketunbi, the spokesperson for the Bureau told PREMIUM TIMES on telephone that all occupants of the craft survived the accident.
“They all survived, they all survived,” the AIB spokesperson said when contacted for updates.
Mr. Oketunbi later issued the following statement, ” A S76 C++ helicopter marked 5N-BQJ belonging to Bristow Helicopters, which departed ERHA Platform enroute Lagos was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles into destination at about 10:20am local time.
“All the eleven souls on board including two crew members were rescued alive. Accident Investigation Bureau AIB has commenced investigation into the occurrence. Details will be communicated to you later.”
The new crash occurred less than six months after another helicopter belonging to the same company crashed in Lagos.
The chopper had on August 12, 2015 plunged into the Lagos Lagoon, killing six of the 12 persons on board.
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