The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in collaboration with other Search and Recovery partners has recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the ditched Sikorsky SK76 helicopter.
The NSIB’s Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji disclosed in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Lagos.
Oladeji said that the Search and Recovery partners in the investigation are the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
The ditched Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5N BQG crashed off the coast of Bonny Finima, Atlantic Ocean, Port Harcourt, River on October 24.
The helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, was transporting eight passengers at the time of the accident.
Oladeji said that since the accident, NSIB and its Search and Recovery partners had coordinated a search and recovery effort.
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 that the FDR and CVR, commonly referred to as the aircraft’s “black box,” was retrieved yesterday 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 added 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 at yesterday, three individuals remained unaccounted for, and long-term search efforts continue in coordination with local and international partners.
She added that further updates would be provided as the investigation progressed and significant developments emerged.
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.
The NSIB has 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.
