Eastwind Aviation Logistics Limited has requested that the media and public respect the privacy of families affected by the recent crash of one of its helicopters, a Sikorsky S76.

The helicopter was carrying eight people—six passengers and two crew members—when it went down while travelling from the Port Harcourt Military Base to FPSO NUIM ANTAN offshore Calabar.

The company confirmed the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. and stated, “Upon receiving this information, our emergency response team was mobilised immediately, and search and rescue operations are currently active.”

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So far, three bodies have been recovered, and identification procedures are underway. Efforts to locate the remaining individuals continue.

Eastwind is collaborating with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to gather more information as the situation develops.

Expressing condolences, the company said, “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this unfortunate incident. We understand this is an incredibly difficult and anxious time for them. Our dedicated team is providing direct support to the families, and we will continue to update them as we receive confirmed information.”

Eastwind has asked the media and public to honour the families’ privacy during this challenging period and pledged to release further updates as more verified information is obtained.