All three people onboard were killed after a helicopter crashed into a residential building in the Opebi area of Lagos State on Friday.
This is just as the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said it had recovered the black box of the ill-fated helicopter belonging to Quorum Aviation.
The bureau said there the chopper, with registration number 5NBQW, had one passenger and two crew members on board.
While the only passenger and the pilot of the chopper died a the scene of the accident, the third person – a crew member – died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he was taken to for treatment.
The Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed the development, said the helicopter flew into Lagos from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said, “At about 12:00pm, we received a distress call in our command and control centre that there was a helicopter mishap and immediately we activated the Lagos State emergency response team.
“We were able to rescue one person alive and he has been transferred to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital where he is receiving adequate treatment, but it is pertinent to note that we recovered two bodies and they have been deposited at the mortuary. Based on the investigation carried out, it was due to the impact that led to their mortalities.”
LASEMA spokesman, Nosa Okunbor, later in the evening confirmed the death of the third person.
Buhari mourns
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu has commiserated with the families of victims of the helicopter crash.
In a two-paragraph statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President prayed to God to console the bereaved and heal the injured.
The statement reads, “President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with families, friends and associates of victims of the Bell 206 helicopter operated by Quorum Aviation which crashed Friday into a building in Opebi, Lagos State.
“While the nation awaits report of investigation into the accident by aviation regulatory agencies, the President prays that God will console the bereaved families, grant peace to the souls of the dead and speedy recovery for the injured.”