Two die in London Helicopter crash

Aviation Nigeria

Two people have died after a helicopter crashed into a crane at a building site in central London in misty conditions, police have said.

Police said it appeared the helicopter had hit the crane on top of a building at about 08:00 GMT, and the London Fire Brigade has stated they have received multiple calls of a helicopter hitting a crane in Vauxhall.

London Fire Brigade said the crash happened near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth and 60 firefighters were there. Burning wreckage lay in the road, with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed.

The incident caused gridlock as roads were closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station have been closed.

Reporting on the incidence, ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground", also adding that the building the helicopter hit was shrouded in mist.

Quin Murray who was at the scene of the crash said: "the helicopter just hit a crane and crashed a few metres in front of me in Vauxhall." He said, completely shaken.

Police said they first received calls at 08:00 GMT and the London Ambulance Service said it was also at the scene. People have reported seeing a pall of smoke in the area.

The BBC's Ross Hawkins said at least four ambulances and many police cars were at the scene. He said Wandsworth Road near Vauxhall station is closed, with apparent debris on the ground, and a crane at the top of a new high rise development appears to be damaged.

Navy Sets Up Board To Unravel Cause Of Helicopter Crash.

Aviation Nigeria

The Nigerian Navy has constituted a board to unravel the remote and immediate causes of its helicopter, which crashed in Bayelsa on Saturday, Rear Adm Emmanuel Ogbor, has said. 

Ogbor, who is the Chief of Training and Operations, announced the constitution of the board at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the members, who are aircraft investigation specialists, are drawn from Agusta Westland, the manufacturer of the ill-fated aircraft and other aviation regulatory agencies as provided by extant regulations.

Ogbor said that some components of the helicopter that could assist the board to carry out its investigation had been recovered.

 ``It is expected that the board will come out with the remote and immediate causes of the accident with far reaching recommendations that will forestall future occurrence,’’ he said. 

Ogbor explained that the Navy’s helicopters, including the NN07, which crashed on Saturday, were properly maintained and serviced regularly, in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification.

He said that the ill-fated helicopter’s routine maintenance was concluded on Nov. 10 and was cleared for operations on Nov. 20 by certified technical support engineers.

``At the time of the incident, the helicopter had flown 1,704 flight hours and had more than 80 flight hours before the next scheduled routine maintenance.

``The Nigerian Navy pilots are very experienced. In fact, the captain in command has flown over 800 hours, while the co-pilot had flown over 300 hours.

``All our pilots are trained in the best aviation institutions all over the world.

``Additionally, spare parts for the helicopters are obtained directly from the manufacturers (Agusta Westland) and or its approved maintenance centre worldwide,’’ he said.

On the age of the ill-fated aircraft, Ogbor said that it was inducted into the Navy in 2004 directly from the manufacturer.

House to probe worthiness of aircraft's in Nigeria. - Tambuwal

Sky Watch Nigeria.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Aminu Tambuwal has said that the House of Reps will probe the air worthiness of all civilian and military aircrafts flying in Nigeria.

He made this assertion through a statement on Monday 17 December in Abuja by his spokesman Imam Imam putting perspective on naval helicopter crash, which killed Kaduna State Governor, former National Security Adviser Gen Andrew Azazi and four others, on Saturday in Bayelsa State.

Tambuwal has said that the House would liaise with aviation authorities to conduct checks on all aircraft in order to ascertain their airworthiness and to prevent future mishap.

House spokesman Rep. Zakari Mohammed (PDP, Kwara) disclosed that a motion on the matter would be debated on the floor of the House this week

In his condolence, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha expressed shock at the helicopter crash. He said this in a statement by his spokesman Oke Epia.

A report on the probe by the House on the Dana plane crash which killed 153 people on board and injured several others is still to be presented to the parliament for consideration.

Navy Confirms Crash Of Its Helicopter.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

THE Nigerian Navy last night confirmed the crash of its Agusta helicopter around the Nembe-Okoroba area of Bayelsa State.

In a Press statement released by Naval Headquarters, Naval spokesman Commodore Kabir Aliyu said: “A Nigerian Navy Agusta helicopter (helo 07) crashed today Saturday 15 December 2012 at about 3:30pm around Nembe-Okoroba area in Bayelsa State, the helicopter was conveying Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to Port Harcourt from Okoroba village.”

He further added: “Search and rescue operation is on-going by a combined team of personnel from Joint Task Force (OPS PULO SHIELD), Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, NEMA and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. Further details on the crash will be made available as received.”

Sources say that Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, former Governor of Kaduna State and immediate past National Security Adviser, Gen Andrew Owoye Azazi were burnt to death in the helicopter crash. 

The source also added that Mr. Yakowa, had earlier arrived the venue of the interdenominational service of the burial of the father of Presidential Adviser, Oronto Douglas, with Seriake Dickson governor of Bayelsa State, Gen Azazi, former governor of Bauchi State Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Oba Otudeko, Mr. Timi Alaibe and other top government functionaries.

The crashed Helo 07 was one of the two helicopters at the burial venue. The other conveyed the Chief of staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe who represented President, Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, Private Principal Secretary to the President, Mr Mohammed Tukur and the immediate past Presidential Spokesman, Mr Ima Niboro.

SOURCE: The Guardian.

Governor Yakowa, Azazi as victims of Bayelsa Helicopter crash.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

A military Helicopter which reportedly crashed in Bayelsa state has claimed the life of Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi.

Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi, a retired military general who served as chief security adviser to 

President Goodluck Jonathan, Dudas Tsoho, Azazi’s orderly, the pilot and his co-pilot  were said to be on board the helicopter when it crashed.

The Nigeria's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) indicated that the agency had activated a search for a crashed helicopter.

Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi were among many political figures who reportedly attended the burial of the father of senior presidential aide Oronto Douglas. The funeral event took place in the Nembe area of Bayelsa State earlier today reports say that the crashed helicopter was one of several helicopters that some well-connected people to the funeral.

The crash is another recent tragedy claiming people of national interest on the heels of a plane crash on October 25, 2012 that has left Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State brain-damaged.