By Emmanuel Obisue
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that the flight recorder (Black Box) from the ill-fated Sikorsky S76C+ helicopter, which crashed on October 14, has been recovered.
The Minister made the announcement during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja late on Wednesday, providing an update on the ongoing investigation into the crash.
Nigerian Pilot had reported that the helicopter, which was en route from Port Harcourt Military Airport to NNPC’s Floating Production Storage Offloading, FPSO vessel, Nium Antan, was carrying eight people: six passengers and two crew members.
Keyamo revealed that the wreckage was located at midnight on October 31, although several major parts of the helicopter, including the flight recorder, were initially missing.
The Sikorsky S76C+ helicopter, which was manufactured in 1998 by Sikorsky Aircraft in the USA, was registered as 5N-BQG.
The flight recorder was recovered on Friday, November 8, marking a significant milestone in the investigation process, a statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, Head, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, stated.
Keyamo stressed that the investigation would be thorough, examining all possible factors, including the roles of human error, machine failure, and environmental conditions, in order to prevent future accidents.
He noted that a review of the helicopter’s maintenance records, the crew’s training and medical histories, and the condition of the engines would be carried out. The Minister reassured the public that the preliminary findings would be published on the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB website within 30 days.
While offering condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, Keyamo clarified that the investigation would not focus on assigning blame or liability, but rather on understanding the causes of the crash to enhance aviation safety. He also acknowledged the valuable cooperation from various aviation agencies, including the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, as well as the NSIB.
International partners are also involved in the investigation. The United States, as the state of design and manufacture for the helicopter, has appointed an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, while France, the state of manufacture for the helicopter’s engines, has nominated an accredited representative from SAFRAN.
Keyamo emphasized the challenges faced during the underwater recovery operation, which required careful planning and the deployment of advanced technology, financial resources, and a team of over 60 personnel, including professional divers and marine experts. Despite the progress, efforts are still underway to recover the remaining bodies of the victims, with five of the eight individuals onboard already identified as deceased.
NSIB’s family assistance department, in collaboration with the NCAA and NNPC, is providing support to the families of the victims during this difficult time.