Three people were killed on Thursday when a helicopter, carrying workers to Jack Ryag oil rig off the coast of Ghana owned by Russia’s Lukoil, crashed into the ocean, the military said.
The incident took place after the helicopter, operated by Ghana’s Volta River Aviation, took off from the western port of Takoradi on its way to the Jack Ryag oil rig near the giant Jubilee field, reported Reuters.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said that a search commenced about two hours after the helicopter failed to arrive on the rig.
Four people were rescued while another passenger was still missing and two others, both said to be crew members, were reported dead.
The helicopter crashed approximately 20 miles off Takoradi but the cause of the crash was not immediately known, though bad weather was reportedly suspected.
Ghana’s Joy FM radio station reported online that five Ghanaians and three foreign nationals (British, French and Nigerian) were on board the helicopter, citing GCAA official Albert Taylor.
This crash is believed to be the first significant accident to hit Ghana’s oil sector since it commenced production from its offshore fields in December 2010.
Ghana officials have voiced hope that the country could avoid the chronic problems that have plagued other west African oil producers, especially Nigeria.
Image: The Air Force sent a helicopter to conduct a search after contact with the flight was lost. Photo: courtesy of Phaitoon.
