Preliminary findings from United States authorities suggest that wintry weather conditions played a role in the helicopter crash that resulted in the death of Herbert Wigwe, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc. The incident occurred near the California-Nevada border on Friday, claiming the lives of Wigwe, his wife, his son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairperson of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc.
During a media briefing held at 3 am Nigerian time on Sunday, Michael Graham, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), revealed that officials were on-site gathering perishable evidence. Graham stated that the investigation is methodically considering all potential factors to determine the cause of the crash, with witness reports indicating wintry weather conditions at the time.
The helicopter, operated by Orbic Air LLC as a Part 135 charter flight, had no cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder. Graham highlighted that the investigation would encompass the chopper’s airworthiness, maintenance, structure, operations, meteorology, and air traffic control.
Parties involved in the investigation include the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Orbic Air LLC, with the French aviation accident investigation agency, BEA, serving as an accredited representative due to France’s status as the manufacturer of the Airbus helicopter and the Turbomeca engine.
Access Holdings Plc confirmed the tragic loss of Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son in a statement released on Sunday, signed by Group Company Secretary Sunday Ekwochi.
