Off the wire
• U.S. stocks open mixed amid soft data  • News Analysis: Dutch referendum on EU-Ukraine deal test vote for Europe  • Egypt offers full cooperation to probe into Italian student's death  • French, U.S. fighter jets destroy IS target in Syria  • Ghana FA demotes two clubs over match-fixing  • Freedom for Zimbabwe's media as court scraps criminal defamation law  • Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Feb. 4  • Across China: Battle to save navel oranges in east China  • Man arrested on suspicion of firebomb attack at refugee center in Finland  • Urgent: Russia suspects Turkey of preparing for invading Syria  
You are here: 　 Home

Nigeria slams indefinite suspension on helicopter firm after mishap

Xinhua, February 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nigerian authorities on Thursday slammed an indefinite suspension on the Sikorsky S-76C++ model of Bristow Helicopters Ltd., whose chopper crashed into the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said the suspension of operations was to ascertain the adequacy and propriety of the operating aircraft type, which is one of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) all over the world.

"This decision is without prejudice to the investigations being conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau. As a matter of fact, it will serve to assist in the entire process," Muhtar Usman, spokesman of the NCAA, told reporters in Lagos.

The helicopter, carrying 11 passengers, crashed into sea in Lagos Wednesday.

All 11 people, including two pilots, were rescued alive, authorities said.

The latest helicopter crash occurred six months after the same chopper model operated by the company crashed in a Lagos suburb.

The NCAA said it was viewing the successive mishaps of Bristow Helicopters with utmost seriousness, just as it will fully support the Accident Investigation Bureau in its probe of the latest crash. Endit