THE Helicopter crash in Ife-Odan, Osun State, claimed the lives of the Managing Director of Bacita Sugar Company, Mrs. Damilola Kuteyi, her personal assistant, Mrs. Adedoyin and a pilot, identified as Cartemco.
The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Dr. Harold Demuren, yesterday, said the aircraft with registration 5N-BKA belonging to OAS Helicopter was flying very low and crashed into a mountain.
The Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, yesterday condoled with families of the victims.
In a statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Joe Obi, the minister expressed sadness over the incident.
A statement by the National Emergency Management Agency said the ill-fated helicopter was heading to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital when it crashed into a hill about 10 kilometres, west of the village.
Spokesman for NEMA, Mr. Yushau Shuaibu, said the agency's rescue officers retrieved bodies from the wreckage after an intensive six-hour search among rocks.
He said the bodies have been handed over to members of the Kuteyi family.
He said a Police Inspector, simply identified as Victor and volunteers assisted with the operation.
He quoted NEMA Director General, Alhaji Muhammed Sani-Sidi, as saying the agency would work with other outfits to determine why the Emergency Locator (EL) Beacon failed to issue a distress signal.
The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Abuja Operations, Mr. Ishaya Isah Choloko, said weather conditions might have been responsible for the crash, which occurred at the Government Reserve Forest at the Ife-Odan boundary between Ola-Oluwa and Ejigbo Local Government Councils of Osun State.
At the scene of the incident, The Guardian learnt that the crash occurred at about 9.45am on Friday.
The ash-coloured helicopter, however, could not be found by the rescue team until 1am on Saturday.
Osun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Solomon Olusegun, said it took the combined effort of security operatives, local vigilante, Osun State
Youth Volunteers Corps (OYES) and community members to recover the remains of the victims and their personal belongings.
The Chairman, Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), Mr. Segun Ajayi, said difficulties encountered in getting to the scene of the accident affected the rescue operation.
Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, expressed regret over the incident.
According to a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon: "The governor wishes to commiserate with the families of the deceased, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the entire country over this sad
development. The governor prays for the families of the deceased for fortitude to bear the losses."
Following a directive by the governor, ambulances in the three adjoining local government areas of Ola-Oluwa, Iwo and Aiyedire were deployed to handle the evacuation of the remains.
Spokesman for the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Tunji Oketunbi, while briefing the media yesterday on the crash, said the public would be updated as investigation continues.
According to him, the aircraft departed the airline's helipad in Maryland, Lagos at 9.25am with three passengers on board including two female passengers and a male pilot.
He said: "All occupants were fatally injured. Investigators from the AIB arrived at the site this morning (yesterday) and have commenced investigations.
"Our thoughts go out to all the families of the victims."
The Guardian