Four dead, six rescued as Bristow helicopter plunges into Lagos lagoon

Four passengers onboard a Bristow helicopter service died after the chopper, returning from an oil rig, plunged into the lagoon in Lagos State on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at the Oworoshoki area of Lagos State.
The helicopter was said to have at least 12 passengers, including the pilot and co-pilot, when it crashed into the water at the Third Mainland Bridge part of the city.
The crash occurred behind the Oworoshoki Police Station.
It was however not clear what led to the accident as residents said there was a loud bang before the chopper crashed.
The pilots and passengers were believed to have been returning from Escravos in Delta State to the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
An Air Traffic Controller said: “The helicopter with registration number 5N-BDG was said to be returning from the Escravos when the accident occurred.”
Fishermen, who first sighted the helicopter as it flew zigzag through the sky, noted that it appeared as if it had engine problem.
They said the helicopter made a shuddering noise and then plunged into the lagoon.
According to the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Patricia Amadin, the crash occurred around 4pm.
At about 5pm, rescue teams made up of the Police, National Emergency Management Agency and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency had brought out four corpses and rescued six passengers.
Amadin said: “The helicopter belongs to Bristow helicopter. We believe that 12 passengers were on board. Our men and NEMA officials have rescued six people and brought out four corpses. For now, we don’t know the identity of the rescued or dead. We also don’t know whether they are foreigners or Nigerians. The search for more passengers is still on.”
Among the rescued passengers, two were seriously injured and were immediately rushed to Afolabi Hospital, located at New Garage, Bariga.
Other wounded passengers were taken to Gbagada General Hospital.
As at the time of filing this report, nobody could ascertain the cause of the crash.
Officials of LASEMA said the helicopter was seen nose diving into the lagoon before the crash.
One of them said: “We have to ensure that we are able to rescue lives.
“We will get back to you once we are through.”
The spokesman for the South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said: “No distress call was sent to NEMA alert system from the chopper, but rescue agencies are on their way to the scene of the incident. Three dead bodies recovered so far. Two injured have been taken to Afolabi Hospital. Another injured person is receiving treatment at the General Hospital.”
The Accident Investigation Bureau said investigation into the cause of the crash had started.
Spokesman for the AIB, Tunji Oketunbi, said it was too early to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the crash of the chopper but could not get details of the accident.
The AIB is already collaborating with relevant agencies to commence investigations into the cause of the crash.
A statement by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that a Bristow Helicopter with registration number 5N – BDG – 760540 en route from one of the nation’s Oil Rigs crashed at Oworonshoki in Lagos.
The statement, signed by NCAA’s spokesman, Fan Ndubuoke, said the helicopter was scheduled to arrive Lagos at 15.35 pm and had 12 passengers on board, including the crew.
He said: “At present, officials of the Accident Investigation Bureau, National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Police are at the site, providing rescue operation for the victims. While this is ongoing, further details will be communicated as appropriate.”
Before Wednesday’s accident, a Bristow-owned helicopter had crashed inside an ExxonMobil facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on August 3, 2007.
Another crash involving Bristow Helicopters occurred on July 14, 2011 in Port Harcourt.
Bristow operates commercial helicopter flights in Lagos State and some other locations in Nigeria.
Its services at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos originates from the General Aviation Area of the airport and terminates on the Island.
The company also operates from the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Shoreline Logistics Base, Old NPA Port, Marina Road, Calabar, Cross River State; and Aruakpor-Umar Community, Uvwie Local Government Area of Warri in Delta State.
It services include helicopter transportation to the offshore oil and gas industry, Search and Rescue services, helicopter maintenance, modification or repair and helicopter pilot training.
It head office is at the General Aviation Area, Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, Lagos.