HELICOPTER CRASH: 3 survivors suffer hypothermia, aircraft type suspended

Facts about the state of health of survivors of  Wednesday’s 5B BJQ Bristow helicopter crash emerged yesterday.
This is as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday suspended Bristow Helicopter’s aircraft type SikorskyS-76C++ from further operations in Nigeria due to the successive mishaps of the said aircraft type on the coastal waters of Lagos. Usually reliable sources told Vanguard that three of the survivors suffered a medical condition known as hypothermia but they are currently said to be in a stable condition. Hypothermia, a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature, is usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, in this case the Atlantic Ocean, which the chopper “ditched” into. According to the sources, another survivor had a swollen arm while the fifth had a swollen shoulder. The others, including two crew members, did not suffer any serious injuries from the crash.  NCAA suspends aircraft type Meantime, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday suspended Bristow Helicopter’s aircraft type SikorskyS-76C++ from further operations in Nigeria due to the successive mishaps of the said aircraft type on the coastal waters of Lagos. Disclosing this at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman said that the aircraft type had been suspended till further notice pending when the authority will carry out a full audit on it. Bristow Helicopters have suffered successive air mishaps on Lagos coastal waters with its SikorskyS-76C++ aircraft type within the last six months. Captain Usman said “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 stressed.

(culled from http://www.vanguardngr.com/)