FOUR people have been confirmed dead by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials, after a Bristow helicopter crashed into the Lagos Lagoon at the Oworonshoki end of Third Mainland Bridge in the state yesterday.
Twelve people were on board of the aircraft.
Also confirming the incident, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) through its General Manager, Public Affairs, Fan Ndubuoke, said: “A Bristow Helicopter, with registration number 5N – BDG – 760540, en route one of the nation’s oil rigs crashed at Oworonshoki in Lagos this afternoon.
“The helicopter scheduled to arrive Lagos 15.35 p.m. had 12 passengers on board, including the crew.
“At present, officials of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigeria Police are at the site providing rescue operation for the victims.
According to Guardian News , two passengers, who sustained varying degrees of injuries, were taken to the Afolabi Hospital in Oworonshoki and the General Hospital, Ikeja, for emergency treatment.
The accident, which occurred at about 3.45 p.m., caught the residents of the busy area by surprise.
Eyewitnesses said residents heard a loud bang on the waters and “quickly rushed to the scene to ascertain what was amiss.” When they discovered that it was a helicopter accident, they raised the alarm leading to the arrival of relevant authorities for rescue operations. Help, it was learnt did not come immediately the crash happened.
