A devastating helicopter crash in Akwa Ibom State has left eight people, including six oil workers and two crew members, feared dead.

The helicopter, owned by Eastwind Aviation, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday morning while transporting the victims to the OML 123 oil field.

The incident occurred around 11:40 a.m., as the helicopter was en route to the Mimbo platform and the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Sources close to the situation reported that the helicopter unexpectedly ditched before nosediving into the ocean.

“There were six personnel and two crew members onboard the helicopter. Three bodies have been recovered so far. Search and rescue is ongoing,” said an insider familiar with the rescue efforts.

At the time of reporting, authorities had yet to confirm the total number of fatalities, but fears are mounting that all eight individuals onboard may have perished.

Rescue teams continue to search the crash site, hoping to find survivors or recover the remaining bodies.

This tragic incident highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding helicopter operations in Nigeria’s offshore oil fields.

The crash adds to a growing list of aviation accidents in the region, prompting authorities to call for stricter safety measures.

Local authorities and aviation safety agencies are expected to launch a formal investigation into the cause of the crash.