- Recovery Marks Monumental Step In Understanding What Led To Tragic accident-NSIB DG
- Three Bodies Still Missing, Vows To Continue Long-Term Search Efforts
- · Says We’ll Provide Answers To Families Affected By This Accident
Over two weeks after a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima, Rivers State, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, in collaboration with other Search and Recovery partners have recovered the Flight Data Recorder, FDR, and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) popularly called black box.
The ill-fated helicopter was transporting eight passengers and hired by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd.
The Matrix reports that the NSIB had recovered bodies of five of the eight individuals said to be aboard the ill-fated helicopter.
On October 31, the bureau announced the recovery of the wreckage of the ditched chopper while the black box remained unaccounted for.
However, the NSIB’s Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji announced the recovery of the black box in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Lagos.
She said the devices were found in collaboration with Search and Recovery partners NNPC, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
She added that the search had been 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 spokesperson said the FDR and CVR, commonly referred to as the aircraft’s “black box,” was retrieved Friday morning.
According to her, the device is crucial in helping investigators analyse flight performance and cockpit communications to determine the sequence of events leading up to the accident.
She added that the recovered recorder had been secured for transport to NSIB’s data analysis lab, where it would undergo data extraction and analysis by NSIB’s specialists.
Oladeji stated that the analysis would help the bureau gain insights into the operational and technical conditions preceding the accident and to help determine the cause of the accident.
She said that as of Friday, three individuals remained unaccounted for, and long-term search efforts continue in coordination with local and international partners.
“The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in conjunction 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 ditched in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima on October 24, 2024.
“Since the accident, NSIB and its Search and Recovery partners have coordinated a 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 FDR and CVR, commonly referred to as the aircraft’s “black box,” was retrieved early this morning,” the statement read.
By analysing data from the devices, investigators can piece together the events leading up to the crash and identify its cause.
The NSIB spokesperson said recovered recorder has been secured for transport to the bureau’s data analysis lab.
“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.
On his part, the NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh commended the recovery teams and stressed the importance of the investigation.
“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 to 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,” he said.
