The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has successfully retrieved the black box from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter that tragically crashed off the coast near Bonny Finima, Rivers State. This black box, containing the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), will be essential in understanding what led to the October 24 accident, which claimed several lives.
The helicopter, operated by East Wind Aviation and contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), had been carrying six passengers and two crew members when it went down in the Atlantic Ocean. So far, three bodies have been recovered, while the search continues for the remaining passengers.
According to NSIB, the black box recovery involved a collaborative effort among several agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive. Bimbo Oladeji, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, confirmed the black box was secured early on Friday and will be transported to the NSIB’s analysis lab for examination.
NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr. highlighted the significance of this find: “The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in collaboration with its 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 operation 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,’ were retrieved early this morning.”
The NSIB spokesperson also revealed that the recovered recorder has been secured for transport to the bureau’s data analysis laboratory.
“It will undergo data extraction and analysis by NSIB’s specialists to provide insights into the operational and technical conditions leading up to the accident and to help determine the cause,” she stated.
Oladeji stated that the Director General of NSIB, uoted Captain Alex Badeh Jr., 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 crash, which will help us determine the cause and inform any necessary safety recommendations.”
