Nigerian Bank CEO, Family, Pilots Perish in California Helicopter Crash en Route to Super Bowl
Tragedy struck on Friday as a helicopter crashed in California, claiming the lives of six individuals, including the CEO of a Nigerian bank, his family, and two pilots.
The Airbus EC130 was en route from Palm Springs, California to Boulder City, Nevada, near Las Vegas, where the Super Bowl was scheduled for Sunday.
Helicopter En Route to Super Bowl Crashes
The crash occurred near Baker, California, close to Interstate 15 in Halloran Springs, around 10 pm, according to the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department.
Witnesses reported seeing flames emanating from the helicopter upon impact with the desert terrain.
Bold Ahmed Tinbu, the President of Nigeria, confirmed the heartbreaking news of the fatalities, identifying Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings, his wife Chizoba Wigwe, their son Chizi Wigwe, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, among the victims.
Michael Graham, a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board, disclosed that the helicopter departed California at approximately 8:45 pm, and sadly, there were no survivors.
The aircraft was operated by Orbic Air, a Burbank-based tour company, and it’s believed to have been rented from them.
NTSB Details California Helicopter Crash
The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation, with initial findings expected in a few weeks and a comprehensive inquiry projected to take up to two years.
Officials will scrutinize various factors including maintenance, operations, meteorology, and air traffic control to determine the cause.
Offering condolences to the bereaved families, Mr. Graham emphasized the seriousness of the incident. Concurrently, the Federal Aviation Administration has launched its own investigation.
Coinciding with this tragedy, the Super Bowl weekend saw a surge in air traffic, with over 1,000 private jets anticipated to fly into Las Vegas for the event at Allegiant Stadium, as reported by CNN.
