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 marks a significant development in investigations into the October 5 tragedy, as technical teams from the NAF and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have confirmed that the Cockpit Voice Recorder is intact.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced the development in a statement on Friday, November 6, 2026.
According to the Air Force, part of the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly referred to as the black box, has also been recovered. However, efforts are continuing to locate and retrieve the remaining portion.
The NAF further disclosed that additional aircraft wreckage, engine components and human remains had been recovered from the crash site, with search and recovery operations continuing despite the difficult swamp terrain.
The recovered Cockpit Voice Recorder is expected to provide investigators with audio evidence from the flight deck, while the Flight Data Recorder contains technical information about the aircraft’s performance and flight conditions. Together, the devices could help investigators reconstruct the final moments of the flight and establish factors that may have contributed to the disaster.
The Air Force said the recovery exercise also involves careful handling of human remains, with its Directorate of Identification and Classification conducting procedures to ensure proper identification.
It added that it had maintained communication with families of the victims and was engaging relevant authorities over environmental concerns raised by residents of the host community.
The ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NAF 931, crashed into a swampy area near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on October 5.
The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at approximately 9:13 a.m.
The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that all 25 people aboard, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the accident.
The swampy nature of the crash location initially complicated rescue and recovery efforts, prompting the Ondo State Government to deploy specialised amphibious equipment to improve access to the site. The Nigerian Navy and Marine Police also participated in the operations.
On October 13, the NAF constituted a 12-member investigation board to establish the circumstances and causes of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence. The board includes representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the NSIB.
The investigation is expected to examine operational, technical, environmental, human and organisational factors that may have contributed to the accident.
The Air Force appealed for patience, stressing that the recovery and investigation processes require careful coordination and technical examination.
It said the ultimate objective was to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, strengthen flight safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
More than a month after the disaster, the recovery of the intact Cockpit Voice Recorder represents an important step towards answering questions surrounding one of Nigeria’s deadliest recent military aviation accidents.
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