US authorities shed light on the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, his family, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a briefing on Sunday, revealing preliminary findings that suggest wintry weather conditions as a contributing factor to the fatal crash. Michael Graham, an NTSB member, stated that investigators were meticulously gathering evidence at the crash site to determine the probable cause.
“The accident flight was US authorities have shared insights into the tragic crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
The fatal accident occurred late Friday, involving an aircraft carrying the aforementioned individuals and two crew members. In a briefing held on Sunday, Michael Graham, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), shed light on the incident, attributing wintry weather conditions as a contributing factor to the helicopter disaster, which resulted in six fatalities.
Graham revealed that the NTSB team is diligently gathering perishable evidence from the crash site. “The team methodically and systematically reviews all evidence and considers all potential factors to determine the probable cause of the crash,” he stated.
The aircraft, operated by Orbic Air LLC as a Part 135 charter flight, was manned by a pilot in command and a safety pilot. Witness accounts of the weather conditions prevailing at the time of the accident indicate rain and a wintry mix, according to Graham.
Regarding the passengers aboard the helicopter, Graham mentioned that their identities would be released through the coroner’s office, albeit without specifying a timeline. He also noted that the aircraft lacked both a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder, equipment typically required for recording flight data.
Moving forward, the NTSB will conduct a thorough investigation encompassing various aspects, including the airworthiness of the helicopter, maintenance and structural integrity, operational procedures, meteorological conditions, and air traffic control protocols. Graham highlighted the involvement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Orbic Air LLC as parties to the investigation, with the possibility of additional entities being named as the inquiry progresses.
Furthermore, the BEA (Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la Sécurité de l’Aviation Civile), France’s aviation accident investigation agency, will serve as an accredited representative in the investigation. This appointment is due to France’s status as the state of the manufacturer of the Airbus helicopter and the Turbomeca engine installed in the aircraft.
As authorities continue to gather information and piece together the sequence of events leading to the tragic crash, the aviation community awaits further updates on the investigation’s findings.
