The identities of six Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) employees who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Thursday have been disclosed. The helicopter, operated by East Winds Aviation, was en route to the NUIMS ANTAN FPSO facility when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima in Port Harcourt.
The flight manifest revealed the names of the employees as Tamunoemi Suku, Alu Lawrence, Etim Emmanuel, Kenneth Chikwem, Frank Oriamre, and Borris Ndorbo. The pilot, Captain Yakubu Dukas, a seasoned pilot with over 20 years of experience, was also among the casualties. The identity of the eighth person on board remains unknown as of press time.
President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families affected and directed intensified search and rescue efforts. So far, five bodies have been recovered, while the remains of three others are still missing.
In the wake of the tragedy, friends and family took to social media to mourn the victims. Captain Dukas, a respected figure in the aviation community, was remembered by loved ones as a dedicated professional. The other victims, including Dr. Tamunoemi Suku, a highly principled medical doctor, and Lawrence Alu, affectionately known as “Fly Guy,” were remembered fondly by their communities.
