|
Listen to article
|
Three persons have been confirmed dead after a helicopter crashed into the waters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Eastern Updates reports that the accident occurred at 11:22 am on Thursday, along the waterways in Port Harcourt.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Nuimantan oil rig.
Read Also: Lack Of Aircrafts Reason For Constant Flight Disruptions – NCAA
A total of eight persons were on board, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi.
The aircraft ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, the authorities said, adding that rescue efforts have been activated.
In other news, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has reiterated that the lack of capacity by Nigerian airlines is the major reason for flight disruptions and delays in the country.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen at an event organised by the agency in Abuja on Wednesday.
This comes amid the surge in passenger flight delays and cancellations in the Nigerian aviation sector.
Speaking on the development, Achimugu stressed that the lack of adequate aircraft by Nigerian airline operators is responsible for the flight disruption challenge.
He, however, said with the recent signing of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) practice direction to enable domestic airline operators access aircraft on dry lease, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had addressed the problem.
He added that plans are underway to calibrate the country’s airports as another solution to flight disruption.
