Black Box Of Crashed Helicopter Missing – NSIB

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has reported that the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the crashed Sikorsky SK76 helicopter have not yet been recovered.

The director of public affairs and family assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, disclosed this in a statement.

The helicopter, hired by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, tragically plunged into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, Rivers State, on October 24, while en route from the Nigerian Air Force base in Port Harcourt to an FPSO facility.

The crash resulted in the deaths of five of the eight people on board, with recovery operations still ongoing.

The statement reads, “As of 11:55 AM today (Saturday), divers began setting up and checking equipment to conduct an underwater search and recovery, followed by preliminary sweeping operations at 2:15 PM.

“However, by 4:30 PM, diving activities were suspended due to the loss of daylight. Recovery operations are set to resume tomorrow (Sunday) at 9:00 AM local time.

“Despite extensive search efforts, no wreckage or critical components – such as the black box, Flight Data Recorder (FDR), or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) – have yet been located due to the challenging conditions of the operating environment, limited visibility at depth and human divers’ operational constraints.

“To enhance recovery efforts, the NSIB is working to deploy a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped to operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters.

“With its advanced cameras, sensors, and Tether Management System (TMS), the ROV will enable the NSIB team to conduct detailed surveys, collect environmental data, and capture critical evidence essential to understanding the cause of the incident.

“The ROV’s capacity for close inspections and light manipulation tasks will be invaluable in such deep-water environments, where it will aid in assessing wreckage conditions, gathering vital data, and developing insights into potential causes.

“The NSIB is collaborating closely with an amalgamated team of search, rescue, and recovery units comprising various government agencies and private entities.

“The Bureau urges the public to avoid speculation, emphasizing the importance of respecting the integrity of the recovery and investigation as they progress.”

NSIB added that it remains committed to transparency and accountability to enhance transportation safety across Nigeria.