15 months after the helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe, the the United States National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB shared the shared the report of what led to the crash with the federal government, according to The Punch.
Alex Badeh, the Director-General of the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau, made this known, the newspaper report.
Badeh is the chief executive officer of the NSIB, the Nigerian version of the US’ NTSB.
Wigwe, the magazine reported died in an ill-fated helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of his wife, son and others on February 9, 2024.
The helicopter, an Airbus EC130B4 operated by Orbic Air, LLC, under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, crashed near Halloran Springs, California.
The US NTSB had released the report on the cause of the banker’s death, last week, more than 15 months after the fatal crash.
The US agency said the crash was caused by the “pilot disorientation” as well as violation of flight protocols, especially the decision to proceed under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions, as key causes of the crash.
Badeh who confirmed that the report has been shared with the federal government however refused to comment on how the government is planning to proceed with the issue, saying “it is not my place to comment on that.”
Aviation experts insist that the US government is likely to press charges against the operators of the aircraft compay.
Badeh: “The NTSB shared the report directly with the NSIB as we are interested parties and in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 protocols.
“We do not necessarily comment on accident reports as they are not to ascertain blame but to improve safety and prevent reoccurrence. Please note that the NSIB is not the head of aviation.
“The family of the deceased has been in contact with the NTSB at the time of the accident till the close of the investigation.”
Wigwe was on his way to watch the Super Bowl when he died in the fatal helicopter crash alongside his wife Doreen, their first son, Chizi, and former Nigerian Exchange, NGX Group Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, along with two pilots.
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