Yemisi Izuora
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has launched full investigation to unravel the remote cause (s) of the crash involving BRISTOW Helicopter in Lagos on Wednesday.
AIB has also confirmed six occupants of the Helicopter dead while six other survivors are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, has assured the general public of speedy investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the crash of a Bristow Sikosky 76 helicopter with registration number 5NBGD at the Oworoshoki area of Lagos lagoon.
Hajia Bello made this pledge while on a visit to the crash site today.
She commended the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other emergency management agencies for their quick response in the rescue effort.
The Permanent Secretary also led a team of Aviation Ministry officials and Chief Executives of the aviation agencies to pay solidarity visit to the victims of the crash who were being treated in an undisclosed hospital, where she regretted the loss of some passengers on board that ill-fated helicopter.
Hajia Binta assured the general public that government would do everything within its power to ensure enhanced air safety in the country.
Also, the commissioner for AIB, Felix Abali said the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the Helicopter is yet to be recovered and therefore cannot immediately determine what transpired between the pilot and the control tower before the crash.
He however said that Julius Berger will continue the search tomorrow and he believed that it will be recovered.
“The recovery of the aircraft wreckage led by Julius Berger Construction Company is underway. The wreckage of the ill fated aircraft was recovered today but without the flight recorders a.k.a. black boxes. The search continues tomorrow to locate and retrieve the recorders.
Investigation continues with the gathering of evidence by AIB both from the crash site and the relevant organisations including the operators and the Control Tower” he said.
Abali further said that although AIB has a copy of the flight manifest but it is the responsibility of the BRISTOW Helicopter Services to release the document as the family interest must be protected, adding that the primary investigation report will be made public according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annexe 13.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the Helicopter is not outdated and still being used in other countries.