Three Crew Onboard Lagos Helicopter Accident Confirmed Dead, As Sanwo Olu Commiserates With Families

Three crew members of the helicopter that crashed into a wall between two buildings at Opebi, Lagos State, have been confirmed died.

Spokesperson of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Mr Tunji Oketunmbi confirmed this to our correspondent n Friday evening.

Oketunmbi said, “I am already telling you that. I confirm it to you that the third person has died.”

Earlier this afternoon, a Bell 206-3 with registration number 5N-BQW belonging to Quorum Aviation crashed into a wall between two buildings at no 16 A Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja at 12:30 pm.

According to a press statement from the Accident Investigation Bureau signed by Tunji Oketunmbi, the chopper was bound for Lagos from PortHarcourt.

AIB in its press statement also promised to commence an investigation into the accident which had three Passengers on-board – two fatalities and one hospitalised.”

However, the third crew member who was placed in the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital did not make it out alive.

Another source at the LASUTH confirmed this.

An earlier statement from the chopper identified the three victims of the accident.

However, the airline did not give the names of the victims.

Part of the statement read, “We have been made to understand that nobody in the building, nor in the vicinity was injured for which we are grateful.

“In accordance with aviation regulations, the AIB has taken over the investigation process. We hereby ask members of the public to await the outcome of the investigation.

“We hereby express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the crew who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident.”

 

Meanwhile, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu has commiserated with families, friends and associates of the victims of the unfortunate helicopter crash in Opebi, Lagos.

In a condolence message signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile on Friday, Governor Sanwo-Olu promised that his Government would work with all the relevant Federal Government agencies to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the accident so as to prevent a re-occurrence in the future.

The Governor advised residents of Opebi and its surrounding to go about their business peacefully saying, “there is nothing to fear as men and officers of the State emergency services were promptly deployed to the scene of the crash and they had brought everything under control.

The environment is also safe and secure.”

The Governor prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the families they left behind the fortitude the bear the irreplaceable loss.