Operations of Company's aircraft suspended indefinitely

dimeji akinloye

February 4, 2016 5:56 PM

He said aircraft would remain grounded indefinitely while a full audit is carried out on it.

Following the

The Director General of NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman, announced the suspension yesterday while speaking to newsmen at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“On the heels of the Bristow Helicopter’s controlled ditching yesterday, 3rd February 2016, I consider it expedient to communicate to you certain decisions that the Authority has taken concerning the incident.

"These decisions are without prejudice to the investigations being conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). As a matter of fact, it will serve to assist the entire process. The Authority will fully support AIB in the investigation.

"The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has therefore decided to suspend the operation of the Bristow Helicopters SikorskyS-76C++ type till further notice”, Usman said.

The helicopter was heading to Lagos from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when it crashed in the lagoon, al though the company described the crash as "water landing".

All11 people on boardthe aircraft were rescued alive.

Yesterday's crash was the second incident involving the same helicopter in the last months.

dimeji akinloye