Black box of crashed NAF aircraft recovered, AIB begins investigation

”The cockpit voice recorder (black box) of a military aircraft that crashed Friday in Kaduna has been recovered with the data flight recorder, the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria has said.
The AIB also said it had commenced investigation into the plane crash that claimed the lives of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahir, and 10 other military officers/personnel.
The Beechcraft 350 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) crashed around the Kaduna international airport on Friday evening.
Attahiru was said to be on his way to Kaduna to attend a passing-out parade for army recruits scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement on Saturday, AIB General Manager for Public Affairs, Tunji Oketunbi, confirmed that the bureau had commenced investigation into the crash.
He said the aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) have been recovered for analysis.
Oketunbi said, “The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB -N) has been mandated by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to lead the investigation into the crash of a military aircraft that occurred on Friday in Kaduna, in which the Chief of Army Staff died.
“The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the accidented Beechcraft 350 aircraft have been recovered and investigation has commenced.
“Investigators will download and analyse vital information contained in the recorders at the AIB-N’s world class Flight Safety Laboratory, in Abuja.
“The crash, which occurred on landing, claimed 11 lives including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, his aides, and the flight crew.
“The mandate given to AIB-N is based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two agencies on July 1, 2020 covering areas of mutual assistance.