The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter that crashed last month in Rivers State.
The NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, disclosed in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
She said the FDR and CDR were recovered in collaboration with Search and Recovery partners including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
The Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5N BQG crashed off the coast of Bonny Finima, Atlantic Ocean, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, 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 partners had coordinated a search and recovery effort.
She added that the search were 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 added that the FDR and CDR were retrieved on Friday morning.
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 stated.