Revealed: Yakubu Dukas, vice president of pilots association was captain of crashed helicopter

Yakubu Dukas, a seasoned helicopter pilot with more than 20 years flying experience was the pilot in command of the crashed helicopter around Bonny Finima.

Dukas was also the vice president of the
National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

The helicopter, carrying eight individuals – six passengers and two crew members went down into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, during a routine flight on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at approximately 11:22 AM local time.

Abednego Galadima NAAPE national president, who confirmed the crash stated that the association has always maintained that the operating conditions in the aviation industry must always be optimal for all professionals for the safety of all, “knowing that there is no parking space up there”.

“We call on the government and all stakeholders, to always ensure that in all their operations, they target zero for accidents because of the catastrophic nature of air crashes.

“We also call on all relevant agencies to ensure no stone is left unturned in unearthing the immediate and remote causes of this tragic occurrence and all the measures required to be put in place to forestall any further occurrence.
Our prayers are with all families whose beloved ones were on board,” Galadima said.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.