Helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert: Access Bank CEO among victims
Tragedy has struck the Nigerian banking community with the sudden demise of Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe. He and five other passengers died Friday in a helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
Herbert Wigwe, his wife and son were among six people on board the plane that crashed shortly after 10 p.m. near Interstate 15. The two pilots and Bamofin Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of NGX Group, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, also lost their lives in this tragic accident.
The news of the death of Herbert Wigwe, aged 57, his wife Chizoba and their son Chizi, has caused great emotion in Nigeria and the banking sector. He was widely recognized as an industry leader, having held key positions at two of the nation’s largest banks, including Guaranty Trust Bank, where he served as executive director.
Under Wigwe’s leadership, Access Bank’s assets and presence grew significantly, expanding across borders to several African countries.
“Dr Wigwe was a key driving force and standout personality who brought remarkable passion, energy and experience to Access’s transformation,” said Sunday Ekwochi, Group Corporate Secretary of parent company, Access Holdings. , in a press release published on Sunday.
The bank, in a social media post, wrote that Wigwe’s “passion and unwavering commitment to excellence” transformed Access into a global giant.
“His legacy of excellence and compassion will continue to inspire us all,” the statement added.
Wigwe’s death is a blow to Nigeria and the African banking industry, said Bayo Onanuga, a spokesman for the Nigerian presidency. “Wigwe had a great ambition to make Access Holdings the largest company in Africa, with an unquenchable thirst for acquisitions,” he added.
Wigwe’s interests also extended to the education sector. His private university, located in the Niger Delta region where he was from, is expected to open in September. Last year, he said the university was “an opportunity for me to give back to society.”
The crash occurred south of I-15 near Halloran Springs Road, about 75 miles northeast of Barstow, according to Michael Graham of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). ), who is investigating the accident.
Graham said Saturday he did not have information about the two crew members, a pilot and a safety pilot. The aircraft was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, and it was not required to have one, he added..
The Airbus EC-130 left the Palm Springs Airport around 8:45 Friday evening and was headed to Boulder City, Nevada, Graham said. Boulder City is about 25 miles southeast of Las Vegas, where the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to face off in Super Bowl 58 this Sunday.
Flight tracking data shows the helicopter was flying along the highway between 300 and 500 meters above sea level, Graham said at a news conference Sunday. The aircraft made a slight bank to the right, heading south of the road, then the data shows a gradual descent and an increase in ground speed.
The crash site shows the helicopter hit the ground with its nose low and a right bank, Graham said, adding that meteorologists confirmed the presence of precipitation at the time of the crash. The debris field extended about 100 yards (about 91 meters).
The flight was a charter flight operated by Orbic Air LLC. Several people driving on I-15 witnessed the crash and called for help, Graham said.
Witnesses reported it was raining with a mixture of snow at the time of the crash, Graham added. People also reported a fire on the helicopter as well as downed power lines.
“This is the start of a long process. We will not jump to any conclusions,” Graham said Saturday.
Investigators began mapping the area using drones and documenting the debris on Sunday. They also collect aircraft flight and maintenance records. A preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days, but a full investigation will take up to two years to complete.
The crash site is not far from the California-Nevada border. Halloran Springs Road crosses the highway in an area known to travelers for an abandoned gas station with a sign proclaiming “Lo Gas” and “Eat.” It is a remote area of the desert, located at an elevation of almost 3,000 feet, approximately 65 to 80 miles from Las Vegas.
The accident comes just three days after a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter crashed in the mountains near San Diego during heavy rains, killing five Marines.