Flight Data Recorder, CVR Recovered

The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators to Nigeria to assist in the investigation of Sunday's mysterious downing of a Boeing 737-200 near the capital city of Abuja.

The news comes as authorities at the scene say they've recovered the plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder... which, hopefully, will give investigators some clues on what brought the jet down.

NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker has designated Senior Air Safety Investigator Dennis Jones as the US Accredited Representative in Nigeria. He will be accompanied by an additional NTSB investigator and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing Aircraft Company and Pratt & Whitney Engines.

As Aero-News reported, the ADC Airlines plane crashed shortly after takeoff on October 29. News reports indicate that almost 100 persons lost their lives.

While the cause of Sunday's crash remains a mystery, Nigeria has been plagued by numerous aviation accidents that the head of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency called "systemic failures" in both infrastructure and aviation safety procedures.

Authorities in Nigeria have since withdrawn ADC's operating license... the fourth airline in a year to be banned from flying in that country.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.ministryofaviationng.org/ncaa.htm