3 crew members perish in chopper crash
• Buhari, Sanwo-Olu condole with bereaved families
All three occupants of the helicopter, which crashed in Lagos on Friday afternoon did not survive the accident. Two died at the scene of the crash, while the third injured victim who was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital has passed on.
The Bell 206 helicopter was flying from Port Harcourt to Lagos when it crashed into buildings at 16A Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja, a few kilometres to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos about 12.35 pm.
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, according to the aviation company, indicated the three souls on board -all crew, two died at the scene while the third had been hospitalised.
The company expressed gratitude at the information that nobody in the building, nor in the vicinity was injured.
“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.”
The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, has commenced an investigation into the accident. “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, the AIB said in a press release.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the families, friends and associates of victims of the crashed 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.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu also commiserated with families, friends and associates of the victims.
In a condolence message signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu promised that his government would work with all the relevant Federal Government agencies to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the accident to prevent a reoccurrence.
The governor advised residents of Opebi and its surrounding to go about their business peacefully saying, “there is nothing to fear as men and officers of the state emergency services were promptly deployed to the scene of the crash and they had brought everything under control. The environment is also safe and secure.”
The governor prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the families they left behind the fortitude the bear the irreplaceable loss.
