Three persons have been confirmed dead in a helicopter crash that occurred in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday.

The helicopter had personnel of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) onboard.

NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye, in a statement, said that the helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation was engaged by NNPC Limited.

“We shall continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates as the events unfold. Our prayers are with the passengers, crew and their respective families at this very difficult time.

“We assure that we will continue doing everything possible to support the ongoing search and rescue operation,” Soneye said.

The accident was said to have occurred at 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt when the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG  took off from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi, confirmed that eight persons were onboard the chopper.

The aircraft ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, the authorities said in a statement.

The ministry said the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and neighbouring aerodromes have been notified, and that search and rescue operations have commenced with the support of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other relevant agencies.

“While no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, manual efforts to plot the location of the accident are underway, and all available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivor(s). So far, three bodies have been recovered,” the authorities said while offering words of comfort to the families of those onboard.