The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crash off Bonny Finima.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in collaboration with several Search and Recovery agencies, has successfully retrieved the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter that crashed off the coast of Bonny Finima, Rivers State, on October 24.
The recovery of these crucial devices marks a significant milestone in the investigation of the tragic crash, which claimed the lives of five individuals, with three still missing.
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In a statement released on Friday in Lagos, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at NSIB, confirmed the successful recovery.
She highlighted that key partners in the search and recovery efforts included the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
The Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5N-BQG, was operated by Eastwind Aviation and was en route with eight passengers on board when it crashed.
Since the incident, NSIB, along with its partners, has conducted extensive search operations to locate the wreckage, recover the bodies of the deceased, and secure the vital black boxes for investigation.
On Friday morning, the FDR and CVR, commonly known as the black boxes, were retrieved from the wreckage site.
These devices are essential in flight investigations, as they provide critical data on flight performance and cockpit communications that will help authorities reconstruct the events leading up to the crash.
Oladeji explained that the recovered equipment will be transported to NSIB’s data analysis laboratory, where specialists will extract and analyse the data.
This process is expected to yield vital information about the operational and technical conditions surrounding the crash, which will assist in determining the cause of the accident.
NSIB Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh, expressed his appreciation for the tireless efforts of the recovery teams. He emphasised that the data from the black boxes will be instrumental in understanding the cause of the tragic crash and in formulating safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.
Badeh also extended his thoughts to the families of the missing individuals and reassured the public that the search for the remaining three passengers would continue in coordination with local and international partners.
As of Friday, five bodies have been recovered from the crash site, while the search for the remaining passengers is ongoing.
In a previous update, NSIB confirmed the recovery of the helicopter’s wreckage on October 31. Authorities are committed to providing further updates as the investigation progresses.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
