Details have emerged on how Faleye Olusola, the Special Assistant to the Late Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe escaped death by not boarding the plane his boss boarded.
Wigwe, his wife and son as well as the former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo died on Friday during a plane crash.
According to Sahara reporters. Wigwe’s Special Assistant, Faleye Olusola, whose name was on the manifest, escaped death miraculously as he did not board the ill-fated flight but opted to travel by road.
Olusola flew with Wigwe, his wife, son and former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo from London, United Kingdom to Palm Springs, California, United States.
However, on getting to Palm Springs, Olusola declined to board the ill-fated flight to Boulder City in Nevada, insisting that he would not travel by helicopter at night due to the weather conditions.
He was said to have travelled to Boulder City by road and escaped the air disaster.
Meanwhile, Access Holdings Plc has confirmed the death of its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife and son, in a helicopter accident in the United States.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Group Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, on Sunday.
The statement said, “It is with deep sadness that the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) announces the passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Executive Officer and former Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’).
“Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024 in a helicopter accident in the United States of America.
The United States authorities on Sunday said that a wintry weather condition was among the factors that contributed to the Chopper crash that killed the Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe.
Speaking during a media briefing Saturday (3am Nigerian time, Sunday), a National Transportation Safety Board member, Michael Graham, said officials were on the scene to gather perishable evidence.
Graham said the team was “methodically and systematically reviewing all evidence” and considering all potential factors to determine the probable cause of the crash.
He added that although the information provided was only preliminary, witness reports suggested that a wintry weather condition was among the factors that contributed to the accident.
“The crew consisted of a pilot in command and a safety pilot. Orbic Air LLC operated the accident flight as a Part 135 charter flight.
“Witness reports of the weather conditions at the time of the accident suggest rain and a wintry mix.
“The helicopter was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder. This helicopter was not required to be equipped with those types of recording devices,” Graham said.
