NAF searches for black boxes as recovery of crashed aircraft stalls

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified efforts to recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder of its ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, as the recovery of the submerged wreckage remains stalled.

The aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, crashed into a swamp on Monday while travelling from Benin to Lagos, killing all 25 personnel on board, including crew members. Five days after the incident, the main wreckage remained submerged, with only fragments recovered despite the deployment of heavy-duty amphibious equipment by the Ondo State Government.

The NAF Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Ebimobo Ebiowe, said the recovery team was searching for critical components that could help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. He identified the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, as vital to reconstructing the aircraft’s final moments.

The flight data recorder captures technical information about an aircraft’s operation, while the cockpit voice recorder preserves cockpit audio. Together, the devices could provide investigators with crucial evidence to determine what happened before the aircraft crashed.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has deployed specialised sonar equipment through its Hydrographic Department to map the submerged crash site. The technology is expected to help locate the wreckage in the murky swamp and guide divers and other recovery personnel in their search.

Separately, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said a team comprising military and civilian aviation safety experts had been constituted to investigate the crash. He urged Nigerians to avoid speculation and allow the experts to establish the cause of the tragedy.

Aneke expressed grief over the deaths, describing the victims as highly trained and professional personnel. He also thanked the Ondo State Government for supporting the recovery operation, acknowledging the importance of cooperation among the agencies involved in the search.

The Nigerian Air Force chief assured Nigerians that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and help prevent a recurrence. However, the recovery of the black boxes and the main wreckage remains crucial to providing investigators with further evidence about the incident.