A preliminary investigation into the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, alongside five others, has pointed to pilot spatial disorientation and alleged negligence by the charter company, Orbic Air LLC. The crash occurred on February 9, 2024, in the Mojave Desert, California, under adverse weather conditions.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the helicopter departed Palm Springs Airport at approximately 8:45 p.m., heading to Boulder City, Nevada. Witnesses described a “fireball” in the sky amidst a mix of rain and snow, suggesting the aircraft encountered severe weather challenges.
The lawsuit filed by the family of Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former chair of the Nigerian Stock Exchange who also perished in the crash, alleges that Orbic Air proceeded with the flight despite known hazardous conditions. They claim the company failed in its duty to ensure passenger safety by not canceling the flight.
Both pilots, Benjamin Pettingill and Blake Hansen, were licensed commercial helicopter pilots and flight instructors. The lawsuit names them, along with Orbic Air and its CEO, Brady Bowers, citing wrongful death and negligence.
The NTSB’s ongoing investigation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors leading to the crash. Preliminary findings indicate that the helicopter’s fuselage was fragmented, and both the cockpit and cabin were destroyed upon impact.
This incident has raised concerns about the protocols followed by charter companies during adverse weather conditions and the importance of stringent safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
