Tragedy struck on 9th February 2024 as a helicopter crash claimed the lives of six individuals, including Herbert Wigwe, the chief executive of Nigeria’s largest bank, Access Bank, along with his wife, Doreen Chizoba, and their son, Chizi.
Also among the victims was Abimola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of Nigeria’s stock exchange. The identities of those involved were confirmed by the director general of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and subsequently verified by Access Bank officials.
The ill-fated helicopter departed from Palm Springs airport in California en route to Boulder City, Nevada, on Friday evening. The aircraft, an Airbus Helicopters EC-130, crashed in a remote area of the Mojave desert along the California-Nevada border. San Bernardino county sheriff department received reports of the crash around 10:10 pm. Tragically, all six individuals on board, including two helicopter pilots, lost their lives.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Witnesses reported that the helicopter caught fire upon impact, and adverse weather conditions, including rain and wintry mix, prevailed at the time of the crash.
The news of the tragic incident elicited shock and sorrow from Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who extended his condolences to the Wigwe and Ogunbanjo families, as well as the broader community impacted by the loss. Herbert Wigwe, known for his contributions as a banker, humanitarian, and entrepreneur, assumed the role of managing director and chief executive of Access Bank in 2014.
In a poignant message shared on X in January 2024, Wigwe emphasized the preciousness of life and urged living with purpose, kindness, and gratitude. The untimely loss of Herbert Wigwe, his family, and the other victims is a devastating blow, leaving behind a profound sense of loss and mourning among their loved ones and the wider community.
