US authorities have disclosed information regarding the tragic helicopter crash claiming the lives of Herbert Wigwe, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, his wife, Chizoba Wigwe, son, and former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, alongside two crew members.
During a briefing held on Sunday, officials highlighted wintry weather conditions as a contributing factor to the devastating incident, which resulted in the loss of six lives. Michael Graham, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member, emphasized the meticulous process underway to ascertain the crash’s probable cause, citing witness reports indicating rain and wintry mix conditions at the time of the accident.
Graham outlined the absence of cockpit voice recorders or flight data recorders onboard the helicopter, clarifying that such devices were not mandatory for this type of aircraft. He underscored the NTSB’s comprehensive investigation, which encompasses assessing the chopper’s airworthiness, maintenance, structural integrity, operational procedures, meteorological conditions, and air traffic control involvement.
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Furthermore, Graham identified key stakeholders in the ongoing investigation, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Orbic Air LLC, and the French aviation accident investigation agency (BEA), appointed due to the aircraft’s manufacturer origins.
As the inquiry progresses, additional parties may be implicated, underscoring the collaborative efforts aimed at comprehensively examining the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
