A helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert, California, late Friday night, February 9, resulted in the death of six people.
The Airbus EC-130, operated by Orbic Air, was carrying two crew members and four passengers, including Herbert Wigwe, 57, CEO of Access Bank of Nigeria, his wife, Chizoba, and their son, Chizi.
The aircraft had departed from Palm Springs, California, and was headed towards Boulder City, Nevada. The accident occurred near Interstate 15, about 75 miles northeast of Barstow, in a desolate stretch of the desert.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an in-depth investigation into the crash, with NTSB member Michael Graham disclosing that the incident took place shortly after 10 p.m. near Halloran Springs, California. According to witnesses, it was raining at the time of the incident and the helicopter ignited upon impact.
The crash site’s elevation, nearly 3,000 feet, is now a critical focus of the NTSB’s ongoing inquiry.
As part of the investigation, efforts to document the crash site have been undertaken, including the strategic use of drones for aerial mapping. It has been noted that the helicopter lacked both cockpit voice and flight data recorders, components not required for this aircraft type, but whose absence limits insights into the crash dynamics.
The loss of Herbert Wigwe has resonated deeply within the banking sector and beyond, reflecting on his significant contributions to expanding Access Bank’s footprint across Africa. Wigwe, renowned for his visionary leadership and dedication to social impact, played a pivotal role in elevating Nigeria’s global financial services standing.
The incident also claimed the lives of former Nigeria Stock Exchange Group chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, 61, and both pilots. Expressions of condolence have emerged globally, with Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki articulating their shock and mourning the irreplaceable loss.
The investigation is expected to take 12-24 months to complete, with preliminary findings expected within weeks.