The helicopter carrying Herbert Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, and five others crashed, claiming all onboard lives.
The chopper, identified as a Eurocopter EC 130, was en route to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.
Reports from TheWill News and Daily Mail confirm the devastating incident, which occurred near Nipton on the edge of the Mojave Desert. Officials stated that the helicopter, owned by Burbank-based tour company Orbic Air, was carrying six people when it crashed late on Friday evening.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene after receiving reports of the downed aircraft near Baker shortly after 10 pm.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash and noted that it occurred east of the 15 Freeway near Halloran Springs.
Some reports have it that among the six passengers on board, included his wife, son and three other passengers. Despite the confirmation by The New York Times, the identities of the other passengers have not been disclosed.
Wigwe, in his final days, focused on his legacy project, Wigwe University, a $500 million institution in Rivers State, Nigeria. The university aimed to provide top-tier education in management, science, engineering, information technology, and creative arts, nurturing innovative leaders for Africa’s future.