Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe Dies In Helicopter Crash

iexclusivenews – Herbert Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, a leading financial services group in Africa, was one of the six people who died in a helicopter crash in California, USA, on Friday night.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC 130, was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas when it went down near Nipton, a small town on the border of Nevada and California, around 10 pm local time.

TheWill News reported that the helicopter belonged to Orbic Air, a Burbank-based tour company that offers scenic flights and charter services. The company has not yet commented on the incident.

No survivors found at the crash site

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said they received a report of a downed aircraft near Baker, a nearby community, and dispatched a search and rescue team to the location.

However, they were unable to find any survivors at the crash site, which was located in a remote area of the Mojave Desert Preserve.

“We are not able to confirm how many people were on board or their names. No survivors have been located,” the department said in a statement.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash, which is still unknown.

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Second fatal helicopter crash in California in a week

The accident marks the second deadly helicopter crash in California in less than a week. On Tuesday, a Navy helicopter carrying five service members crashed during a routine training flight in Pine Valley, about 60 miles east of San Diego.

All five crew members were killed in the crash, which sparked a brush fire in the area. The Navy said the helicopter was attached to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

Herbert Wigwe’s legacy and achievements

Herbert Wigwe was a prominent and respected figure in the African business world. He was the CEO of Access Holdings, which comprises Access Bank, one of the largest banks in Nigeria and Africa, and several other subsidiaries in insurance, asset management, securities, and health care.

He was instrumental in transforming Access Bank from a small Nigerian bank into a global financial institution with operations in 12 countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

He was also a philanthropist and a champion of social causes, such as education, health, and women empowerment. He founded the Herbert Wigwe Foundation, which supports various initiatives to improve the lives of the underprivileged in Nigeria and beyond.

He was awarded the African Banker of the Year in 2016 and 2020, and the African Business Leader of the Year in 2019, among othe accolades.