In a devastating incident late Friday evening, a helicopter en route from Palm Springs to Boulder City, Nevada, crashed in San Bernardino County, California, near the Nevada border, resulting in the loss of all six onboard. Among the victims were Dr. Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, a distinguished Nigerian banker, his wife, and their son, marking a tragic loss for both the financial and international communities.
The Eurocopter EC 130, identified by the FAA, went down around 10 p.m. local time, east of the 15-Freeway near Nipton. Early reports from the scene indicated no survivors, underscoring the severity of the crash. The FAA, together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has initiated a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, which occurred just west of the Nevada state line.
Authorities at the scene of a helicopter crash in eastern San Bernardino County, Calif., near the Nevada border.Credit…KTLA
Dr. Wigwe, 57, served as the CEO of Access Bank and was a revered figure in Nigeria’s financial sector, with affiliations including the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and Friends Africa. Also among the deceased was Abimbola Ogunbanjo, noted for his role as a former chair of the Nigerian Exchange Group, highlighting the crash’s profound impact on Nigeria’s business leadership.
The identities of the two other passengers aboard the helicopter remain unconfirmed as investigations continue. The international community and Nigeria, in particular, mourn the loss of such influential figures, with tributes pouring in to honor their contributions.
