The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has successfully recovered the black box from the helicopter that crashed off the coast of Bonny Finima near Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 operated by East Wind Aviation, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 24 while on a contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The incident involved six passengers and two crew members, with three bodies already recovered from the crash site.
The black box, consisting of both the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), is essential for a comprehensive investigation into the crash. Bimbo Oladeji, NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, confirmed in a Friday statement that the black box was located and retrieved with assistance from key partners, including NNPC, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.
Since the crash, NSIB and its partners have been actively searching for the missing individuals and securing evidence to determine the cause of the accident. The retrieved recorder is now being transported to NSIB’s data analysis lab for detailed examination. NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., emphasized the critical nature of the black box in uncovering the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
“The black box holds vital information that will provide invaluable insights into the accident’s operational and technical conditions,” Badeh said. “Our thoughts remain with the families of those still unaccounted for, and efforts are ongoing to bring them answers.”
The findings from the black box will contribute to safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
