Helicopter Crashes into Building in Lagos, Kills 3…

Three persons have been confirmed dead, as a Bell 206-B3 helicopter, operated by Quorum Aviation, crashed into a building at 16 A, Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja Lagos, yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari immediately dispatched a condolence letter to Lagos, commiserating with friends and relatives of victims.

Giving a situation report shortly after the crash, the Director General and CEO of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency received distress calls concerning “a privately operated helicopter that crashed into 16 A Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja and immediately activated the emergency response plan.

“The helicopter was carrying three people, one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital while the other two were killed on impact and their bodies have been deposited in the mortuary. We are on top of challenges, especially crowd control. Operation is ongoing and updates will follow.”

In its reaction, the Accident

Investigation Bureau (AIB) said it was notified about the accident by LASEMA at about 12:30 pm yesterday and that it has commenced investigation into “an accident involving a Helicopter Bell 206-B3 with the Nationality Registration Marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation coming from Port Harcourt to Lagos, which occurred on 28 August, 2020 at the Opebi Area of Ikeja Lagos. Three Passengers onboard - two fatalities and one hospitalised.”

However, AIB confirmed that the third person on board the helicopter, who was a fitter, died later in the hospital.

AIB, as the investigating agency, requested that people with useful information should assist them. “We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any member of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation. “The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and not assume they know the cause of the accident until formal report is released,” the agency said.