The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Friday announced the recovery of the recently crashed helicopter black box in conjunction with the Search and Recovery mode (SAR) partners NNPC, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
The black box contained the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registration 5N BQG, which ditched in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.
The helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, was transporting eight passengers at the time of the accident.
TheNSIB and its Search and Recovery partners have been coordinating the search and recovery effort in collaboration with local and international partners to locate and retrieve the bodies of the deceased and the critical components necessary for a comprehensive investigation.
The Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the agency Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the FDR and CVR, commonly referred to as the aircraft’s “black box,” was retrieved “early this morning.”
This device, she said further, “is crucial in helping investigators analyse flight performance and cockpit communications to determine the sequence of events leading up to the accident.”
She said the recovered recorder had been secured for transport to NSIB’s data analysis lab, adding that it will undergo data extraction and analysis by NSIB’s specialists to gain insights into the operational and technical conditions preceding the accident and to help determine the cause of the accident.
She stated that as of today, three individuals remained unaccounted for, and long-term search efforts continued in coordination with local and international partners.
NSIB’s Director General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., commended the recovery teams and stressed the importance of the investigation:
He said, “The recovery of the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder marks a monumental step in understanding what led to this tragic accident.
“The black box holds vital information that will provide invaluable insight into the sequence of events leading up to the accident, which will help us determine the cause and inform any necessary safety recommendations. While our thoughts are with the families of those still unaccounted for, concerted efforts are being made to find the missing individuals and provide answers to the families affected by this accident.”