Access Bank says it is cooperating with US authorities who are investigating the fatal helicopter crash that led to the death of the bank’s chief executive, Herbert Wigwe.
In its first reaction since the news of the crash went viral on Saturday, the bank did not confirm that Mr Wigwe, his wife and his son were in the crashed helicopter.
“We have received numerous enquiries concerning an airplane crash in the USA,” bank spokesperson Olufisayo Osindeinde wrote in an early Sunday statement.
“Presently, we lack specific information; however, we are actively collaborating with US authorities who will furnish updates.”
The helicopter crashed near the California-Nevada border. Apart from Mr Wigwe, unverified sources stated that Herbert Wigwe’s wife, Chizoba, his son, and a former President of Nigeria Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, were all feared dead in the crash.
Nigerians received the sad news of Wigwe’s death the same day (Saturday, February 10,2024) on which the 9th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was held.
As of Saturday morning, according to the New York Times, no survivors had been found, according to the officials.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed that a helicopter crashed Friday night near Nipton, California, with six people on board.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that no survivor has been found as of Saturday morning.
The FAA identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC 130.
“We were made aware of a downed aircraft at approximately 10:12 p.m., on February 10, 2024. The scene of the crash was determined to be east of the 15-Freeway, near Halloran Springs Road,” the sheriff’s department said.
Meanwhile, no agency or investigation has reported the cause of the crash.
Although Access has yet to confirm the death, many Nigerians including those who had access to Mr Wigwe have confirmed it and publicly expressed their condolences.
These include former finance minister and head of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former Abia governor Orji Kalu.
