NAF Plane Crash: Search for Black Box Continues as Recovery Efforts Face Challenges

Rescue teams and divers have intensified efforts to recover the black box and victims’ remains one week after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.

The ATR-42 aircraft went down on October 5 in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area. According to a report by PREMIUM TIMES, the recovery operation has yielded fragments of the victims and damaged aircraft parts, making the identification of those who died difficult.

During a visit to the crash site on Monday, the newspaper observed rescuers digging through the muddy waters in search of the aircraft’s black box. The report also indicated that the search team might have identified the precise location of the crash, although efforts to obtain confirmation from NAF and police officials were unsuccessful.

A swamp buggy operator involved in the recovery operation said the impact had shattered the aircraft, leaving little hope of recovering the victims’ complete bodies. The operator, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said part of the pilot’s body had been recovered from a section of the aircraft near a tyre.

He explained that the team was now concentrating on locating the black box, following the difficulties encountered while searching through deep mud and scattered wreckage. The operator added that the recovery of the flight recorder remained a key instruction given to the team.

Meanwhile, technicians were assembling additional floatation equipment for swamp buggies, also known as amphibious excavators, at the riverbank. One technician told PREMIUM TIMES that the equipment would be attached to the machinery to help it navigate the muddy terrain and support further searches.

The operation has also raised concerns about possible water pollution in the community. A buggy operator reportedly observed aviation fuel and oil in the water alongside human remains, while residents depend on the river as their main source of water. The community’s traditional ruler, Afolabi Odidiomo, had earlier expressed concern about the potential contamination and the challenges of recovering the victims from the swamp.

As the search continues, the recovery of the black box could help investigators establish further details about the crash. However, the report did not confirm that the flight recorder had been found or provide an official update on the investigation’s progress.