ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has refuted claims circulating in media reports that the helicopter involved in last week’s tragic crash near Port Harcourt was not airworthy.
The agency stated Tuesday, October 29, 2024, that the allegations are unfounded and that the ill-fated aircraft, with registration number 5N-BQG, was indeed safe for operation.
The NCAA addressed claims made by an online publication suggesting that the aircraft had been scrapped in 2018, clarifying that the allegations arose from a misunderstanding of registration records.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday last week, involved a Sikorsky S76C+ helicopter operated by East Wind Aviation and chartered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The helicopter took off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) and was en route to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig when it crashed into the waterways around 11:22 a.m.
The helicopter was carrying eight passengers; so far, four bodies have been recovered, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
In an official statement, NCAA Director General Chris Najomo addressed the accusations of negligence.
“The attention of the Authority has been brought to a report by SaharaReporters on the airworthiness status of the recently crashed helicopter with registration marks 5N-BQG prior to the crash,” the statement read.
“In their report, it was stated that the aircraft was initially registered in the year 2004 as 5N-BGN with Aero Contractors, after which it was deregistered to Canada in the year 2009.
“The report then went on to state that the aircraft registration was canceled in September 2018 after it was ‘presumably scrapped.’
“Their report concluded with a question of how the helicopter was moved to Nigeria and registered as 5N-BQG before the crash,” Najomo explained.
Key Facts from the NCAA
Najomo outlined the specifics of the registration history for both helicopters in question, explaining that registration numbers can be tracked using the Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN), in addition to the visible registration marks.
According to Najomo, the MSN is a unique identifier that avoids confusion when registration marks are transferred between aircraft. He stated:
“It is important to state that aircraft can be tracked not only by their registration marks but also by their Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN). The 5N-BQG S76C+ Helicopter has its MSN as 760486, while the 5N-BGN S76C+ Helicopter has its MSN as 760468.”
He continued by detailing the history of each aircraft:
- The S76C+ Helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN 760468 was initially registered in Nigeria in 2004 and operated by Aero Contractors. It was subsequently deregistered in 2009 and registered in Canada. The claim that this aircraft was scrapped in 2018 in Canada does not involve the current 5N-BQG model involved in last week’s crash.
- The helicopter involved in Thursday’s crash, a separate S76C+ with MSN 760486 and registration 5N-BQG, was first registered in Nigeria in 2012. Initially owned and operated by Nestoil Plc, the helicopter’s registration was reissued in 2021 to OMNI-BLU Aviation Ltd., with ownership transferred to Danba Associates Limited. In 2022, ownership transferred to East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, which also became the registered operator in early 2024.
“Based on the following data from our records, it is clear that Sahara Reporters could not clearly differentiate the records of the recently crashed East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited S76C+ Helicopter with registration mark 5N-BQG and MSN: 760486 and the Aero Contractors de-registered S76C+ Helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN: 760468,” Najomo clarified.
Official Stand on Airworthiness and Safety
The NCAA assured the public that the S76C+ helicopter involved in the accident adhered to all necessary regulatory standards and passed requisite inspections.
“The NCAA is confident that the S76C+ helicopter met all conditions for safe operations and was regularly maintained, following international aviation standards,” Najomo said.
As part of its regulatory commitment, the NCAA said it would continue to ensure transparency and safety across Nigeria’s aviation operations.
Najomo emphasized the importance of distinguishing verified data from speculation and urged media outlets to seek clarification when publishing sensitive information related to aviation safety.
Incident Overview and Further Investigation
The helicopter crash has raised critical safety questions, as the East Wind-operated aircraft was chartered by the NNPCL, a leading player in Nigeria’s oil sector.
Following the incident, immediate rescue operations commenced, with four bodies recovered thus far.
The NCAA stated that it is conducting a thorough investigation in cooperation with the Nigerian Air Accident Investigation Bureau to determine the cause of the crash.
Najomo closed his statement by calling for public patience as investigations unfold, adding that conclusions about airworthiness must rely on evidence rather than conjecture.
The NCAA plans to release further updates as the investigation progresses, underscoring its commitment to transparency and operational safety across the nation’s airspace.
