The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have expressed sadness over a helicopter crash that occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Vice President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Yakubu Dukas, was the captain of the helicopter.

The helicopter operated by East Wind Aviation reportedly plunged into the Atlantic Ocean killing all the passengers and crew members on board.

Until his demise, Dukas was a seasoned and experienced air pilot with over 20 years of flight operations under his belt.

President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, described Dukas as a committed trade unionist, activist and leader who contributed greatly to the development of NAAPE, the NLC, and the broader trade union movement.

The NLC stated that while it awaits the details of the tragedy, there should be a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.

“We extend our deeply felt condolences to the immediate family left behind by our Comrade, the leadership and membership of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, friends, and colleagues who have been left behind by our departed comrade. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of other victims of this unfortunate crash,” he said.

On his part, President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), William Akporeha, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), the management and staff of Arion Energy Services Ltd and the NUIM Antan branch of NUPENG.

He stressed that the entire oil and gas sector and aviation community are profoundly affected and impacted by the heartbreaking accident and losses.

“We are doubly saddened to note that amongst the deceased were two highly committed
and frontline members of NUPENG, Comrade Boris Dorbi, the dependable branch Chairman of NUPENG and Comrade Lawrence Alu, who is also a respected member of NUIM Antan Branch of NUPENG. Their unfortunate and untimely deaths are a significant blow to the oil and gas industry and our collective workforce,” he said.

The union also commended the efforts of the governments of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other agencies involved in the recovery operations.

“As we mourn our deceased comrades and colleagues, we stand united in our grief and offer our prayers and condolences to the bereaved families and all those impacted by this tragedy. NUPENG remains committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of our members and the wider community,” the NUPENG boss added.

President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, hinted that the association is currently working on gathering more information about the circumstances surrounding the crash and is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities in their investigation.

Osifo urged all parties involved to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the cause of the accident, stressing that urgent measures should be put in place to prevent future tragedies.

He stated that some of the deceased members were valued members of the PENGASSAN family and dedicated professionals in the oil and gas industry.

PENGASSAN called on its members through the branches to observe a moment of silence and reflection in honour of the fallen workers.