Access Bank has said that it is cooperating with United States investigators after a fatal helicopter crash killed its group CEO Herbert Wigwe.
Wigwe’s wife, son and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former chair of Nigerian Exchange Group, were also on board when the Eurocopter EC 130 helicopter in which they were travelling crashed in Nipton, a community in San Bernardino County in California, United States.
Although multiple local media reports in the US said Wigwe died in the accident, the bank, however, did not confirm nor deny that he, his wife and his son were in the crash.
“We have received numerous enquiries concerning an airplane crash in the USA,” bank spokesperson Olufisayo Osindeinde said in a statement.
“Presently, we lack specific information; however, we are actively collaborating with US authorities who will furnish updates.”
San Bernadino Sheriff’s office said six people on the chopper were confirmed dead and that the identities will be released after their families have been notified.
“It has been confirmed all six people on board the aircraft are deceased,” San Bernardino Sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The identities of the deceased will be released once positive identification has been made and next of kin notifications have been made.”
Michael Graham of the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) explained that witnesses said it was raining with a “wintry mix” at the time of the crash.
“This is the beginning of a long process. We will not jump to any conclusions,” Graham said.
