AIB ‘recovers black box’, says crashed helicopter flew in from Port Harcourt

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has recovered the black box of the helicopter that crashed into a residential building in the Ikeja area of Lagos, according to the state emergency agency.

Nosa Okunbor, spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), told TheCable that the AIB retrieved the black box and transported the wreck of the aircraft to their office for further investigations.

The helicopter, a Bell 206, with registration number 5N BQW belongs to Quorum Aviation, an air transportation and logistics company, came in from Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital with two crew members and a passenger.

Tunji Oketunbi, general manager, public affairs of the AIB, said investigation has also commenced.

Two people were confirmed dead after the helicopter crashed into the residential building while another person who sustained injuries was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for treatment.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), who were drafted to the scene of the accident for rescue, are currently moving the wreckage away.

Ibrahim Farinloye, acting coordinator, Lagos territorial office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),  said the accident occurred while the helicopter was returning from training in Port Harcourt.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated in view of the fresh information from AIB that the helicopter had no black box.