ONDO, Nigeria – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have confirmed the recovery of an intact Cockpit Voice Recorder from the wreckage of a military aircraft that crashed in Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.
The recorder was recovered by joint technical teams operating in difficult swamp terrain near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area, where the aircraft went down on October 5, 2026.
In an update issued on Friday, the Air Force said recovery teams had also secured part of the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder, engine components, additional wreckage and human remains. However, searches are continuing for the remaining section of the Flight Data Recorder and other outstanding components.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the joint technical teams had confirmed that the Cockpit Voice Recorder was intact. He said recovery operations remained challenging because of the swamp environment, adding that investigators were working to retrieve the remaining components and support further technical examinations.
The recovered recorders are expected to provide important evidence for investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. While the Cockpit Voice Recorder captures cockpit conversations and other sounds, the Flight Data Recorder stores technical information about an aircraft’s operation and performance. Both can help investigators reconstruct events leading up to an accident.
The Nigerian Air Force said it was continuing to engage with the families of the deceased, facilitate the proper identification of human remains and address environmental concerns arising from the recovery operation. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances of the crash and identify any safety lessons that could help prevent similar incidents.
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