Nigerian Air Force recovers cockpit voice recorder from military plane crash that killed 25

The Nigerian Air Force said on November 6 that recovery teams have found the cockpit voice recorder from the ATR-42 military aircraft that crashed in Ondo State a month ago, and that technical experts have confirmed it is intact, a breakthrough for the investigation into the cause. The aircraft, registration NAF 931, crashed on October 5 while on a routine flight, killing all 25 people on board.

Black box partly recovered; search continues

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force's Director of Public Relations and Information, said in a statement in Abuja on November 6 that technical teams from the Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau had confirmed the recovered cockpit voice recorder was intact. Recovery teams also retrieved part of the flight data recorder, while efforts to find the remaining portion continue. Additional aircraft wreckage, engine components and human remains have also been recovered, and the remains are being handled through established identification procedures.

Swampy terrain hampered the search for over a month

According to the Air Force, the aircraft was flying from Benin City to Lagos on October 5 when it went down in a swampy area near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area, beside the Nigerian Navy's Forward Operating Base. All 20 passengers and five crew members on board were killed. The swampy terrain made the search for wreckage and remains extremely difficult, and progress was slow for more than a month. The Air Force has set up a 12-member board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances and causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence. The cause has not yet been established.

(Sources: Nigerian Air Force; Premium Times; Punch.)