NAF Finds Cockpit Voice Recorder from Crashed Plane in Ondo

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has found a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) at the site of the ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The search for the CVR has been tough and has lasted about a month since the crash on 5 October.

Ehimen Ejodame, an air commodore and the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Ejodame confirmed that technical teams from NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) verified that the CVR was intact.

He also mentioned that part of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), often called the black box, was found. The teams are still working to recover the rest of it.

In addition, more wreckage from the aircraft, engine parts, and human remains have been recovered.

“Operations continue in the challenging swampy area, with teams focused on retrieving remaining parts and conducting necessary technical checks,” he said.

Ejodame explained that they are handling human remains with care. The Directorate of Identification and Classification (DIC) is following proper procedures for identifying them.

He added that NAF is in regular contact with the families of the victims, understanding their need for updates and support.

According to him, they are also working with relevant authorities on environmental issues raised by the local community as part of their response efforts.

“While we appreciate the public's concern, NAF asks for patience and understanding. These important processes take time, careful planning, and professional attention.

“Our main goal is not just to find out what caused the crash but also to learn from it to improve flight safety and ensure the protection of personnel and citizens,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the aircraft was on a routine flight from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed on 5 October into a swamp near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda. All 25 people on board died.

Officials said the plane broke into two when it crashed, with the main part sinking in about 30 meters of swamp water.

This situation made it hard to recover bodies and parts of the aircraft.

The challenging terrain made rescue efforts difficult, and military and government officials were initially unsure how to tackle the situation.

Last month, PREMIUM TIMES reported that efforts had begun to recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the ATR-42 aircraft.