Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the wreckage of its ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.
The recovery is expected to support investigations into the circumstances surrounding the October 5, 2026 accident, as technical teams continue searching for the remaining components of the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as the black box.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
He said technical teams from the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau had examined the recovered Cockpit Voice Recorder and confirmed that it was intact.
According to him, part of the Flight Data Recorder has also been retrieved, while recovery teams are continuing efforts to locate and recover the outstanding portion.
Ejodame added that additional aircraft wreckage, engine components and human remains had been recovered from the crash site.
He explained that recovery operations were continuing in difficult swamp terrain, with teams working to retrieve the remaining aircraft components and facilitate the necessary technical examinations.
“Investigation is being conducted with due diligence to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based findings,” he said.
The NAF spokesperson also said the recovery process included procedures for the proper handling and identification of human remains, with the Directorate of Identification and Classification coordinating the necessary arrangements.
He added that the Air Force had maintained contact with the victims’ families to provide information and support, while engagements with relevant authorities continued over environmental concerns raised by the host community.
Ejodame appealed for patience and understanding, noting that the recovery and investigation processes required time, careful coordination and professional attention.
He said the ultimate objective was to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident, identify lessons that could strengthen flight safety and improve the protection of military personnel and civilians.
The ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed in a swampy area near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on October 5, 2026, while undertaking a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
All 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the accident. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at approximately 9:13 a.m.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning as recovery operations continued at the difficult-to-access crash site.
