…Buhari condoles with bereaved families
All the three occupants of the helicopter, which crashed in Lagos on Friday afternoon are crew members. Two died at the scene of the crash while the third injured victim is hospitalised.
The helicopter was flying from Port Harcourt to Lagos when it crashed into buildings at Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja, a few kilometres to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The owners of the chopper, Quorum Aviation Limited confirmed the information in a statement thus: “A light helicopter belonging to Quorum Aviation with registration Number 5N-BQW flying from Port-Harcourt to Lagos crashed between two buildings in Ikeja en-route to Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
“As soon as we received news of the accident, we promptly informed the aviation authorities, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“Preliminary reports indicate that of the three souls on board – all crew, two of the crew members lost their lives whilst the third one is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
“We have been made to understand that nobody in the building, nor in the vicinity was injured for which we are grateful.
“In accordance with aviation regulations, the AIB has taken over the investigation process. We hereby ask members of the public to await the outcome of the investigation.
“We hereby express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the crew who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the families, friends and associates of victims of the crashed Bell 206 helicopter.
The President prayed that God would console the bereaved families, grant peace to the souls of the dead and speedy recovery for the injured, as the nation awaited report of the investigation into the accident by aviation regulatory agencies.