AIB recovers black box of crashed COAS Aircraft, commences investigation

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), on Saturday recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the crashed Beechcraft 350 aircraft that led to the deaths of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers.

Contained in a statement signed by its General Manager of Public Affairs, Tunji Oketunbi, AIB has been mandated by the Nigerian Air Force to “lead the Investigation into the crash” of the military aircraft on Friday.

The statement stressed, “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 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.”

Meanwhile, Military authorities had earlier suggested that the flight crashed due to adverse weather conditions.

The  late COAS and the other 10 officers were. earlier buried on Saturday, at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, the nation’s capital.