Two Days After, Black box of the Ill-Fated Helicopter Found

Two days after a Bristow helicopter carrying 12 passengers from an oil rig crashed in the lagoon in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos, the Accident Investigation Bureau announced that it had recovered the helicopter’s black box.

Six passengers died while the remaining six were said to be receiving treatment in a Lagos hospital.

The black box, also known as a flight recorder, is an electronic recording device placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of aviation accidents and incidents.

The black box contains the cockpit voice and the flight data recorders.

The AIB Commissioner, Dr. Felix Abali, displayed the two devices to aviation correspondents at the bureau’s headquarters in Lagos. Meanwhile, the AIB spokesperson, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, told our correspondent that the agency would get in touch with the oil company whose workers were involved in the accident before the manifest would be made public.

He said, “Yes, we have the manifest, but we cannot release it yet until all protocols are fully observed. We will contact the oil company to know when we should release it, after they must have got in touch with the family members of the victims.”

The External Communications Manager, Bristow Helicopters, Julie King, told our correspondent in an email that the company would keep the public abreast of whatever information was deemed important.

She said, “As required by the Nigerian law, Bristow has released the requested passenger manifest to the NCAA and the NCAIB. We will continue to release details about the incident.”

Meanwhile, Bristow Helicopters said it was conducting a comprehensive inspection review of its S-76 fleet and that, with the full endorsement of the NCAA and the AIB, it had resumed flying those aircraft that had been inspected.

“We would wish to reiterate our appreciation for the help, support and understanding we have received from the NCAA, the AIB, our clients and other industry stakeholders during this very difficult period,” Bristow’s Regional Director Africa, Duncan Moore, said in a press release on the company’s website.

The company had on Thursday suspended operations, less than 24 hours after one of its helicopters crashed into the Lagos Lagoon in Oworonshoki area.

The company added that it would continue to cooperate fully with the AIB on the ongoing investigation.

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