AM EDITORIAL: Still On Preservation Of Accident Investigation Evidence

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on March 25, 2026 held an Aviation Stakeholder Engagement Workshop under the theme, “Preservation Of Accident Investigation Evidence & Substance Use Among Aviation Personnel.”

This is quite commendable in the light of Annex 13 provisions on Accident Investigation which assigns the responsibility for the conduct of accident and serious incident investigation to the Accident Investigation Authority, which in the case of Nigeria is the NSIB.

There are areas of coordination between the NCAA and the NSIB and these areas have been detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Accountable Executives of both entities to include, the establishment and management of the State Safety Programme (SSP), personnel support during investigation of serious incidents and accidents, Family Assistance Programme (FAP), Safety Recommendations implementation and so on.

The NSIB’s investigation of accidents and serious incidents are based on the gathering and analysis of factual evidences. During the investigations, one of the primary objectives is to gather all material, relevant evidences, that enable the Bureau to determine the facts, circumstances and conditions that led to the occurrence that prompted the investigation.

This makes it very imperative that these evidences are preserved for the investigation. According to the Director General of Civil Aviation, “it is to this intent that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 7.8.1.3 in paragraph (a), requires that Flight recorder systems shall not be switched off during flight time. In Paragraph (b) of the same sub-section, it requires that flight recorder records, flight recorders shall be deactivated upon completion of flight time following an accident or incident. The flight recorders shall not be reactivated before their disposition as determined in accordance with the accident/incident regulations of Nigeria.”

Part 8.5.1.5 on prohibition on use of psychoactive substances, including narcotics, drugs or alcohol details the minimum amount of time that an individual would act in the capacity of a flight crew after the consumption of an alcohol beverage and there are requirements for the mandatory medical fitness certifications for flight crew members by medical assessors within specified period depending on age and also rest duty-time limitations, while mandatory random checks of operational personnel by their organization are held. These are measures put in place to address the link between drug abuse and accidents or incidents.

While we applaud the NSIB for this workshop however, there is a need to extend the conversation on preservation of accident investigation evidence to pre-investigation activities, where useful materials for accident and incidents investigation are compromised by unofficial and sometimes, official early responders.

There are situations where an accident occurs and due to the late arrival of emergency management agencies, security agencies and other relevant bodies, a lot of loitering and picky activities by community people and immediate responders happen at the site. Sometimes, evidence elements as vital as aircraft, car or train parts are tampered with or out-rightly looted, thereby weakening certainty and accuracy on the cause of such accident.

Yes, an accident is an accident because it does not issue a notice of occurrence ‘in some instances,’ before it happens but it is necessary to evolve a further comprehensive systems management measure that can ensure much more of useful elements for accident investigation are preserved at accident and incident sites. A very effective accident alert system and having the site condoned off early enough is very critical. This can also help to further enhance accuracy and adequacy of accident investigation, while further strengthening reliability of accident reports. AM