A late-night helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert, California, on Friday, February 9, 2024, led to the death of six individuals.
The Airbus EC-130 helicopter, managed by Orbic Air, was transporting two crew members and four passengers when it crashed. The passengers included Herbert Wigwe, a 57-year-old CEO of Access Bank of Nigeria, his wife, Chizoba, 56, and their son, Chizi, 29.
The aircraft had left Palm Springs, California, and was en route to Boulder City, Nevada. The fatal incident happened near Interstate 15, roughly 75 miles northeast of Barstow, in a remote part of the desert.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has started an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. NTSB member Michael Graham indicated that the incident occurred shortly after 10 p.m. near Halloran Springs, California. Witnesses reported rain at the time of the crash, and the helicopter caught fire upon impact.
The high altitude of the crash site, nearly 3,000 feet, is currently a key aspect of the NTSB’s ongoing investigation.
Efforts to document the crash site have been initiated as part of the investigation, including the use of drones for aerial mapping. The absence of cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which are not mandatory for this type of aircraft, has been noted as it restricts understanding of the crash’s dynamics.
The death of Herbert Wigwe has had a profound impact on the banking sector and beyond, underscored by his significant role in enhancing Access Bank’s presence throughout Africa. Wigwe’s visionary leadership and commitment to social impact were instrumental in enhancing Nigeria’s global financial services reputation.
The crash also took the lives of former Nigeria Stock Exchange Group chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, aged 61, and the two pilots, Blake R. Hansen, 22, of Moorpark, California, and Benjamin D. Pettingill, 25, of Camarillo, California.
Expressions of condolence have been shared globally, including sentiments of shock and mourning from Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The investigation into the crash is estimated to take between 12 and 24 months, with initial findings expected in the coming weeks.
