Reports emerging from The New York Times suggest that Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings, along with his wife and son, may have been among the passengers on a helicopter that crashed near the California-Nevada border.
The tragic incident, which occurred early Saturday Nigerian time, has left authorities searching for survivors without success.
The crash site, located near Nipton, Calif., an unincorporated area approximately 60 miles south of Las Vegas, fell under the jurisdiction of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities were alerted to the incident at 10:12 p.m. local time, and the wreckage was found east of Interstate 15, close to Halloran Springs Road.
The ill-fated flight, designated N130CZ and operated by Orbic Air LLC, departed from Palm Springs, California, at 8:45 p.m. Its last known location was near Fort Irwin/Barstow, California, at 21:49 p.m. the same day. The helicopter involved was an Airbus Helicopter EC-130, and the circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear.
As of the latest report, Access Holdings, the parent company of Access Bank, has not officially confirmed the demise of Mr. Wigwe. The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) and the National Transportation Safety Board (N.T.S.B.) have initiated investigations into the incident, with N.T.S.B. representatives slated to arrive at the crash site on Saturday.
Details surrounding the crash, including its cause and contributing factors, remain shrouded in uncertainty pending the outcome of the investigations. The tragic event has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the risks associated with air travel and the uncertainties faced by those aboard aircraft.
The loss of Herbert Wigwe, a prominent figure in the banking industry, along with his family, underscores the fragility of life and the suddenness with which tragedy can strike. As authorities work to piece together the events leading to the crash, the focus remains on providing support to the affected families and gaining insights that may prevent similar incidents in the future.
