NAAPE mourns loss of Vice President, others in helicopter crash
National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers NAAPE
Abdullateef Fowewe
The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers is in mourning following the tragic helicopter crash that occurred on October 24, 2024, off the coast of Port Harcourt.
The NAAPE’s Vice President and a highly experienced pilot with over 20 years in aviation, Captain Yakubu Dukas, was among the eight individuals aboard the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter when it went down in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima.
In a statement from NAAPE President Abednego Galadima, the association expressed profound sadness at the loss.
Galadima emphasised the need for optimal operating conditions in aviation to ensure safety, urging government and industry stakeholders to prioritize accident prevention.
The statement reads, “The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has received with great sadness, the news of the helicopter crash offshore on 24th October, 2024. More saddening is that the captain on board, Capt Yakubu Dukas, is a seasoned helicopter pilot with more than 20 years of flying experience and until this unfortunate accident, was the Vice President of our great union.
“We have always maintained that the operating conditions in the aviation industry must always be optimal for all professionals for the safety of all knowing that there is no parking space up there.
We call on the government and all stakeholders, to always ensure that in all their operations, they target zero for accidents because of the catastrophic nature of air crashes.”
However, the association called for a thorough investigation into the crash to uncover its causes and prevent future incidents.
“We also call on all relevant agencies to ensure no stone is left unturned in unearthing the immediate and remote causes of this tragic occurrence and all the measures required to be put in place to forestall any further occurrence.
“Our prayers are with all families whose beloved ones were on board,” the statement added.
Reports indicate that all eight passengers, including six others alongside Dukas, are feared dead.
The helicopter was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to an oil rig when it lost contact with air traffic control shortly before crashing.
