NAF recovers cockpit voice recorder from Igbokoda ATR-42 crash site
- Air Force teams and safety investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder intact from the swampy crash site in Ondo State.
- Part of the flight data recorder, wreckage, engine parts and human remains have also been retrieved.
- The ATR-42 crashed on 5 October 2026 with 25 people on board; all died.
The Nigerian Air Force says it has recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage of its ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in Igbokoda, Ondo State, giving investigators a key piece of evidence in a probe that has stretched past a month.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF's Director of Public Relations and Information, announced the recovery in a statement on Friday. He said technical teams from the NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the recorder was intact.
Part of the flight data recorder, commonly called the black box, was also retrieved. Teams are still searching the swamp for the remaining portion, Ejodame said.
He added that more aircraft wreckage, engine components and human remains had been recovered from the site.
What the recovery means
The cockpit voice recorder captures what was said and heard in the cockpit before a crash, while the flight data recorder tracks the aircraft's speed, altitude and systems. Together they are usually central to explaining why a plane went down.
The aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on 5 October 2026 in a swampy area near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos. All 25 people on board died: five crew members and 20 passengers.
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane at about 9:13 am, according to Punch. President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning after the accident.
Recovery work has been slow because of the difficult swamp terrain, with teams pumping water from the site. Ejodame said operations were continuing to retrieve outstanding components so that technical examinations can go ahead.
He said the investigation is being handled with due diligence to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based findings.
The NAF said the Directorate of Identification and Classification is handling human remains carefully so victims can be properly identified. It also said it has kept in touch with the families of the victims, who need information and support.
Ejodame said the service is engaging relevant authorities over environmental concerns raised by the host community.
He asked the public for continued patience, saying the processes require time, careful coordination and professional attention.
"The ultimate objective is not only to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident but also to draw the necessary lessons to strengthen flight safety," he said.
The NAF said it will keep providing verified updates as the recovery continues.
