One Week after NAF crash, search for Black Box, victims’ remains continues in Ondo swamp

Divers and rescue teams have intensified efforts to recover the black box and remains of victims of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, one week after the accident.

The ATR-42 aircraft reportedly plunged into a swamp in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on October 5, killing all 25 people on board.

The recovery operation, which began shortly after the crash, has yielded fragments of the aircraft and human remains. However, the force of the impact and the difficult swamp terrain have made the recovery and identification of the victims challenging.

When Journalists visited the crash site on Monday, rescuers were still working in the muddy waters in search of the aircraft’s black box, also known as the flight recorder.

The Very Nigerian reports that the search team might have located the precise crash site, although efforts to obtain confirmation from Nigerian Air Force and police officials were unsuccessful.

A source familiar with the recovery operation also indicated that the team had lowered its expectations of recovering the victims’ bodies intact because of the extensive damage to the aircraft.

An operator of the swamp buggies used in the operation, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said part of the pilot’s body had been recovered from a section of the wreckage.

“We found the body of the pilot, but it was cut in the middle and half of it is what was brought out,” the operator said.

He added that the team had recovered small pieces of the aircraft but expressed doubts about finding the main fuselage intact.

“The place is deep, and much of it is muddy. We are now focused on finding the black box. That is the directive we have, and after we find it, I would not know what next will happen,” he said.

More equipment deployed for recovery operation

At the riverbank, technicians were seen assembling a flotation device for the swamp buggies, also known as amphibious excavators, in preparation for further recovery work in the difficult terrain.

A technician told Journalists that the equipment would be attached to the machinery to improve its ability to navigate the muddy waters.

He explained that the team was preparing additional flotation equipment to support the ongoing search operation.

The deployment of the equipment suggests that the recovery team is preparing to continue working in areas where the swamp’s depth and muddy conditions have complicated access to the wreckage.

Residents raise concerns over water pollution

Meanwhile, concerns have emerged over possible contamination of the water around the crash site.

An operator involved in the recovery effort reportedly observed aviation fuel and oil in the water, alongside human remains from the crash.

The development has raised concerns among residents because the river serves as a major source of water for the Igbokoda community.

The community’s traditional ruler, Afolabi Odidiomo, had earlier expressed concern about the possibility of water pollution arising from the crash and the recovery operation.

He also highlighted the difficulties involved in retrieving the victims’ remains from the swamp, particularly given the likelihood that some remains had been submerged in the surrounding water.

The environmental concerns have added another dimension to the recovery operation, with residents facing uncertainty over the safety of their water source.

As the search continues, the recovery of the black box is expected to be important in helping investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. However, the search team had not publicly confirmed its recovery as of the time of the report.

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