NSIB Recovers Black Box 15 Days After Sikorsky Helicopter Crash As Three Persons Still Missing

Fifteen days after the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), otherwise known as black box in the aviation industry.

NSIB also said that three out of the eight persons on board the helicopter with the registration number 5N BQG were still missing, but said effort to recover their bodies was still ongoing.

A statement by Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, said that the black box was recovered in conjunction with the Search and Recovery partners—the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, and HydroDive.

The black box is a device that records important flight data to help investigators (NSIB) unravel the causes of the accident.

The helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation had ditched into the Atlantic Ocean on October 24, 2024, with eight people onboard—six passengers and two crewmembers.

NSIB said that since the accident occurred, its search and recovery partners had coordinated a search and recovery effort 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 statement hinted that the black box was retrieved early Friday morning, adding, “This device is crucial in helping investigators analyse flight performance and cockpit communications to determine the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

“The recovered recorder has been secured for transport to NSIB’s data analysis laboratory. It will undergo data extraction and analysis by NSIB’s specialists to gain insights into the operational and technical conditions preceding the accident and to help determine the cause of the accident.”

However, NSIB emphasised that as of Friday, three individuals remained unaccounted for, and long-term search efforts continued in coordination with local and international partners.

Commenting on the recovery effort, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., the Director-General, NSIB, commended the teams and stressed the importance of the investigation.

He explained that the recovery of the FDR and CVR marked a monumental step in understanding what led to the tragic accident.

He maintained that the black box holds vital information that would provide invaluable insight into the sequence of events leading up to the accident, which would help the bureau determine the cause and inform any necessary safety recommendations.

He added: “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 insisted that the bureau remained dedicated to conducting an investigation that prioritises transparency and aligns with international standards for aviation safety.