The Director-General of the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau, Alex Badeh, has said that the United States National Transportation Safety Board shared the report of the helicopter crash that claimed the life of the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, alongside his wife, son, and three others, with the NSIB.
NSIB is an agency of the Federal Government. Badeh made this known in an exclusive chat with our correspondent barely a week after the report of the NTSB that provided details of findings on why the helicopter carrying the high-profile Nigerians crashed 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.
On board were Wigwe, his wife, Doreen, their first son, Chizi, and former NGX Group Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, along with two pilots, all of whom died in the crash.
A final report by the US National Transportation Safety Board cited “pilot disorientation” and a violation of flight protocols, especially the decision to proceed under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions, as key causes of the crash.
When asked if Nigeria’s accident investigators were satisfied with the NTSB report, the NSIB boss said the agency does not comment on accident reports, as the report’s essence was not to apportion blame but to improve safety across the sector.
Badeh also confirmed that the family of the deceased had been in touch with the NTSB till the final report was released.
He said, “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.”
When asked what the next line of action was supposed to be, the NSIB boss said, “I will not comment on the next line of action as it is not my place to comment on that.”
Meanwhile, aviation professionals in Nigeria had told The PUNCH that the US government is likely to pursue charges of criminal negligence against Orbic Air, operators of the crash helicopter, before a judicial panel of inquiry.
According to the experts, the panel would review the case and determine the extent of liability and also the extent of punishment applicable to the helicopter company.
