A CEO of a Nigerian bank and five others died after a helicopter crashed in the US state of California on Friday (February 11, 2024).
World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed the death of Herbert Wigwe and posted on X: “Terribly saddened by the news of the terrible loss of Herbert Wigwe , Group CEO Access Bank @HerbertOWigwe, his wife and son as well as Bimbo Ogunbanjo in a helicopter crash. My deepest sympathies and condolences to the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Group employees and Management @myaccessbank and my younger Brother Herbert’s partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”
The chartered Airbus EC130 helicopter was flying from Palm Springs, California, to Boulder City, Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas, National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham told CNN.
The aircraft was operated by California-based charter company Orbic Air.
According to reports, the pilots of the helicopter were also killed in the mishap.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a statement: “It has been confirmed all six people on board the aircraft are deceased.”
“The identities of the deceased will be released once positive identification has been made and next of kin notifications have been made,” he department said.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Inquiries about the crash should be directed accordingly.