Bristow Helicopters yesterday said it has paid the initial payment of $30, 000 to those involved in its August 2015 helicopter crash into the Lagos Lagoon.
This is in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, directive on compensation for crash victims. The Senior Legal Director (African Region) Bristow Group, Tolu Olubajo said this yesterday where he also confirmed the return of Sikorsky S-76S to revenue service at the weekend by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Although Olubajo did not disclose the amount the carrier paid to the victim’s families, he stated that they have paid initial amount to them which is in line with ICAO recommendation of payment of 30 per cent within the first 30 days of the crash, out of the $100, 000 total compensation money for each of the dead victims. The aviation regulatory body had lifted the temporary suspension on the operation of the Bristow Helicopter Sirkorsky S-76 aircrafts in the country. The NCAA had on February 4, 2016 suspended Bristow Helicopter’s Sikorsky S-76C from further operations in Nigeria after two air accidents. The return of the Sikorsky S-76 aircraft to flight operations followed completion of the NCAA’s comprehensive operational audit. And the company said, in addition, it has carried out an extensive return to service safety activities. The aircraft, a Sikorsky S-76C+, was returning from a drilling rig offshore belonging to SEDCO in Ondo State en route the Lagos airport, before it crashed at Oworonsoki near the Third Main Land Bridge as it approached the MMIA. The Six victims on board the flight were Chukwuma Erise, Chidi Ukwunta, Ita Ekpeyong, Chis Abua, Joseph Wyatt (Captain) and Peter Kayode Bello ( Co-pilot).
(Culled from www.vanguardngr.com)
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