Six people, including the group chief executive of one of Nigeria's largest lenders, were killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Friday, authorities said.
Six people were on board the helicopter when it crashed near Nipton, California, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Access Bank Group CEO Herbert Wigwe's death was confirmed by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization, in a post on X, along with that of Nigerian Exchange Group's former Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
"Terribly saddened by the news of the terrible loss of Herbert Wigwe, Group CEO Access Bank, his wife and son as well as Bimbo Ogunbanjo in a helicopter crash," Okonjo-Iweala said on X.
Nigeria's president Bola Tinubu has called Wigwe's death an ''overwhelming tragedy.''
''I am shocked and deeply distressed by the news of the passing of Mr. Herbert Wigwe, a distinguished banker, humanitarian, and entrepreneur... along with members of the Wigwe family - Herbert’s wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi,'' Tinubu wrote in a statement posted on X.
''I pray for the peaceful repose of the departed and ask God Almighty to comfort the multitude of Nigerians who are grieving and the families of the deceased at this deeply agonizing moment,'' Tinubu added.
Crash investigation
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the scene of the crash was determined to be east of the 15-Freeway, near Halloran Springs Road, adding that no survivors had been located as of Saturday.
The FAA identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC 130 and said it would investigate along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
The helicopter was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California, according to multiple reports.
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