The black box, containing the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, has been recovered, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed on Friday.
On October 24, the helicopter, operated by East Wind Aviation and contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, crashed in Rivers State.
Two weeks after the incident, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, announced that the black box was retrieved early on Friday.
She noted that the recovery was achieved through collaboration with Search and Recovery partners, including NNPC, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), together with the Search and Recovery partners NNPC, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive, has recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registration 5N BQG, which went down in the Atlantic Ocean off Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.
“Since the accident, NSIB and its Search and Recovery partners have coordinated an extensive search and recovery operation with both local and international partners to locate and retrieve the bodies of the deceased and the critical components necessary for a comprehensive investigation.
“The FDR and CVR, commonly referred to as the aircraft’s ‘black box,’ were recovered early this morning,” the statement read.
By analysing data from these devices, investigators aim to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash and determine its cause.
The NSIB spokesperson added that the recovered recorder has been secured for transport to the bureau’s data analysis lab.
“It will undergo data extraction and analysis by NSIB specialists to gain insights into the operational and technical conditions preceding the accident and to aid in determining the cause of the accident,” she stated.
NSIB Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. commended the recovery teams and highlighted the investigation’s importance.
He stated, “The recovery of the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder marks a critical milestone in understanding what caused this unfortunate disaster. The black box contains critical information that will provide essential insights into the events leading up to the accident, allowing us to determine the cause and issue any necessary safety recommendations.
“While our thoughts are with the families of those still unaccounted for, dedicated efforts continue to locate the missing individuals and provide answers to the families affected by this accident.”
The plane, carrying six passengers and two crew members, crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar.
So far, three bodies have been retrieved from the crash site.
