The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the wreckage of its ATR-42 aircraft, which crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing all 25 people on board.
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The Air Force also recovered part of the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR), while efforts are ongoing to locate and retrieve the remaining portion of the device.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, announced the development in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.
Ejodame said technical teams from the Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had confirmed that the recovered cockpit voice recorder was intact.
He said other items recovered from the crash site included aircraft wreckage, engine components and human remains.
According to him, recovery operations are continuing despite the difficult swampy terrain, with technical personnel working to retrieve the remaining aircraft components for further examination.
He said the investigation was being conducted with due diligence to ensure that its findings were comprehensive and based on available evidence.
Ejodame added that the handling of human remains was being carried out carefully, with the NAF Directorate of Identification and Classification undertaking necessary procedures to ensure proper identification.
He said the Air Force had remained in contact with families of the deceased to provide updates and support, while discussions with relevant authorities over environmental concerns raised by the host community were also ongoing.
The spokesman appealed to members of the public to exercise patience, explaining that the recovery and investigation exercises required time, professional attention and coordination.
He said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the accident and identify lessons that could strengthen flight safety and protect military personnel and civilians.
The aircraft, with registration number NAF 931, crashed on October 5, 2026, in a swampy area near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
