AIB ‘recovers’ black box of NAF aircraft, begins investigation into Kaduna air crash

The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) says it has recovered the flight data recorder (black box) of the military aircraft that crashed in Kaduna state.

A Beechcraft 350 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) crashed around the Kaduna international airport on Friday evening.

Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff, and 10 other military officers were on board when the plane crashed.

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, Tunji Oketunbi, AIB general manager for public affairs, said the bureau has commenced investigation into the crash.

Oketunbi said the aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) have been recovered for analysis.

“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 statement reads.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the remains of the officers who died in the crash have been laid to rest at the national military cemetery in Abuja.