Lagos helicopter crash: How pilot tried to save lives
Witnesses to the tragic helicopter crash that happened yesterday at a residential area in Opebi have hailed the pilot of the helicopter for trying his best to minimize the fatality level of the crash.
The pilot, who sadly died in the crash is said to have targeted an open space in the area for an emergency landing when the helicopter had begun to spiral out of control, but he could only manage to crashland at 16A, Salvation Road.
His colleague aboard the Bell helicopter 206B3 also died immediately while the third victim, who was said to be the engineer of the ill-fated helicopter, died at the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he was admitted after he was rescued from the accident scene.
The owner of the property on which the helicopter crashed, Mrs. Comfort Adeniyi-Johnson, is said to have been home alone when the sad event occured.
A 77-year old widow, Mrs. Oluyemisi Olugbode, 77, whose property was also affected, said she was relieved that there was nobody home when the incident occurred.
She said that she and her brother had gone to the hospital because she was not feeling well, adding that they were on their way back home when they received a call informing them that a helicopter has crashed into their building.
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Mrs. Olugbode, who was quite overjoyed at eluding the tragedy began to sing hymns of thanksgiving,
Narrating the experience, she said, “To God be glory, dominion, might and power. I was not in.
“All of us had just gone out and there was no one in the house. We had just arrived at the place we went to when we received a call about the crash.
“We would have come home from the place we first went to, but I insisted my brother must take me to a place he had refused to take me to on Thursday. It was as soon as we got there that we received the call that a helicopter had entered my house.
“I did not understand how that could happen, but this is the result. Fortunately, the next house is our own. It is my husband’s cousin’s house.
“See my house now, the whole wall is broken, roof broken, cars crushed and so many damages. But we are grateful because we, ourselves, are not damaged.
“I cannot thank God enough because it could have been my bones under the helicopter. I would have probably carried something to the back and then the helicopter would just land.
“But because it is not my turn yet and God said I will not die that way, that is why I was not around. My brother and I were just coming from the hospital because I am not feeling well.
“I don’t have any work. I am a widow and just managing. Imagine if this helicopter had fuel in it; the whole street would have finished.
“Such a thing should not happen in neighbourhoods like this. We should take caution for the future. This is not funny. This place could have been a school. Imagine how many casualties we would be counting if that was the case.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have all expressed their condolences to the families of the dead.
The helicopter, belonging to Quorum company is said to have crashed at about 12 noon having left the Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, earlier in the day after undergoing routine checks.
