NSIB, NCAA warn airlines against overwriting black boxes

2026-03-25 - 13:33

By Dickson Omobola Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Wednesday, warned airlines and their crew members against overwriting Cockpit Voice Recorders, CVR, and Flight Data Recorders, FDR, during incidents or accidents. They said such actions could limit the NSIB’s ability to uncover root causes, draw accurate lessons and prevent recurrence of incidents and accidents. In aviation, CVR and FDR, also known as black boxes, record audio, systems and performance data to help investigators understand incidents and enhance future safety. While the NSIB also demanded action against substance use among aviation personnel because it could affect judgment, reaction times and overall flight safety, the NCAA disclosed that it was conducting an enforcement investigation on a recent occurrence in which the CVR was overwritten. Both agencies spoke at the Aviation Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, themed: ‘Preservation of Accident Investigation Evidence and Substance Use among Aviation Personnel,’ held by the NSIB in Lagos. Speaking at the event, Director General of the NSIB, Capt Alex Badeh Jr, said: “We have all seen, in past incidents, how the untimely overwriting of these invaluable black boxes can limit our ability to uncover root causes, learn the right lessons, and prevent recurrence. “As clearly stated in Nig-CARs Part 7.8.1.3(b) – Operation of Flight Recorders: To preserve flight recorder records, flight recorders shall be deactivated upon completion of flight time following an accident or incident.” These rules are explicit: evidence must be secured immediately after any accident or incident. By consistently adhering to these protocols across the industry, you strengthen our collective capacity to conduct thorough and accurate investigations that ultimately protect lives and build public trust. “Second, the issue of substance use among aviation personnel remains a matter of serious concern that demands our collective vigilance and zero tolerance. Impairment — whether from alcohol, psychoactive substances, or other factors — can profoundly affect judgment, reaction times, and overall flight safety.” Meanwhile, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Chris Najomo, represented by the Director of Airworthiness Standards, Dr Ifeanyi Iteke, Airworthiness Directorate, said the investigation of accidents and serious incidents is evidence-based and requires the preservation of all relevant evidence. Najomo said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations mandate that flight recorder systems must not be switched off during flight and must be deactivated after an accident or incident, without being reactivated until proper disposition in line with investigative procedures. He, however, disclosed that the NCAA had begun enforcement action over a recent breach. He said: “I would like to inform you that the authority is conducting an enforcement investigation on a particular occurrence where the CVR was overwritten. “This enforcement action, when concluded and where the crew members or any member of the authority are found culpable, will serve as a deterrent not only to the subject crew members but also to others that are similarly situated.”