ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has pushed back against the findings of the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Herbert Wigwe, former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc., along with his wife, son, and three others.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the Nigerian investigative agency disputed the NTSB’s conclusion that pilot error was the primary cause of the crash, calling instead for a broader examination of systemic failures within the aviation safety framework.
The NTSB’s final report, released over a week ago, cited “pilot disorientation” and the violation of visual flight rules under instrument meteorological conditions as key contributors to the February crash.
The report attributed the pilot’s decision to fly under unsuitable conditions as a critical lapse.
However, the NSIB said while pilot judgement was a factor, it should not be viewed in isolation.
“It appears there were systemic issues, and the flight risk assessment should have indicated a higher risk,” the agency stated.
“While it’s easy to blame the pilot, there is a system behind the pilot that should have mitigated these risks.”
The NSIB, which is Nigeria’s multimodal transport safety investigation agency, also clarified that contrary to earlier impressions, it did not conduct a joint investigation with the NTSB.
Rather, it was kept informed as an “interested party” in the investigative process led by the U.S. agency.
This clarification contradicts remarks made just 24 hours earlier by the NSIB’s Director-General, Alex Badeh, who in an interview with The PUNCH confirmed that the final NTSB report had been shared with Nigeria.
When asked for the bureau’s view on the findings, Badeh declined to comment, stating that “accident reports are not about blame but about improving safety.”
Wednesday’s official response marks the NSIB’s first formal position on the NTSB findings.
In February, the Nigerian agency said it had offered full cooperation to U.S. authorities following the crash, which occurred in California and drew widespread attention across Nigeria’s corporate and political landscape.
The fatal accident claimed the lives of Mr. Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, their son, and three others, including the pilot.
The incident shocked the nation and spurred questions around aviation safety practices and regulatory oversight.
As debate continues over the conclusions of the U.S. report, the NSIB’s latest stance underscores a call for a more nuanced understanding of aviation risks, with emphasis on institutional checks and safety assessments rather than individual culpability alone.
The NTSB has not yet responded to NSIB’s latest comments.
