Although the surviving children of late Herbert Wigwe are adjusting to life without their parents and continuing their education, they are not however
Although the surviving children of late Herbert Wigwe are adjusting to life without their parents and continuing their education, they are not however relenting in their pursuit for justice.
They have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company, Airbus Helicopters SAS, which was previously known as Eurocopter, in a California, United States court, seeking both economic and non-economic damages.
Similarly, the family of Abimbola Ogunbanjo who was also onboard the helicopter has filed a separate lawsuit against the charter company, Orbic Air.
His wife and two children have filed a lawsuit in San Bernardino County Superior Court against Orbic Air and its CEO, Brady Bowers, alleging wrongful death and negligence. The suit also includes the unidentified successors of Pettingill and Hansen, whom Ogunbanjo’s family holds responsible.
According to Paul Usoro, SAN, a distinguished lawyer, and former NBA president who is involved in the case, the legal proceedings have been delayed due to the wildfires that have swept across Southern California, causing evacuations and business closures. He however expressed confidence that the case would have been resolved sooner than later, if not for these disruptions.
In the court filings, the Ogunbanjos claimed that the charter company, improperly flew the helicopter despite a wintry mix of snowy and rainy conditions in the Mojave Desert where the crash occurred on Feb. 9, the Press Enterprise reports. Another attorney on the payroll of the Ogunbanjos, Andrew C. Robb, noted that the family is seeking answers and accountability.
“Helicopters do not do very well in snow and ice. This flight was entirely preventable, and we don’t know why they took off,” Robb said.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had said that witnesses reported that the weather on the fateful day of the helicopter crash was a mix of rain and snow. The board said the automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) technology built in the helicopter that provides the position of an aircraft, recorded an increase in ground speed before the crash.
“The accident flight departed Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) at 2045 under visual flight rules and flew a northwesterly heading for about 2 miles before following US Highway 111 to Interstate (I) 10 at altitudes varying between 2,500 – 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl),” the report read in part.
“ADS-B data resumed at 2207 near the Halloran Springs/I-15 exit west of the accident location. The last ADS-B data points for the flight tracked east-southeast, gradually descended in altitude, and increased in ground speed (see Figures 1 and 2). The accident site was located 0.31 miles east-southeast of the last data point at an elevation of about 3,360 ft msl. According to law enforcement, several witnesses who were traveling in vehicles on I-15, called 911 to report observing a ‘fireball’ to the south. The witnesses reported the weather conditions in the area were “not good” and raining with a snow mix. The accident site was located by law enforcement at 2346.”
The board said the wreckage was located in high mountainous desert and scrub brush covered terrain, and debris were scattered about 300 ft along a 120° magnetic heading from the initial impact point.
“All major helicopter components were identified at the accident site,” the report indicated.
A history of unfortunate accidents
Ironically, the helicopter, a single engine aircraft and its several variations have had a rather long and unfortunate history of accidents.
In January 2024, just about a month before Wigwe and his family died in a crash, a US court had ordered the manufacturer to pay the family of a victim of another crash $75 million.
On the 1st of December, three persons were killed when a Mexican Federal Electricity Commission-owned Eurocopter EC 130B4, hit electrical lines during takeoff. Also, a Eurocopter EC 130B4 had crashed in the Grand Canyon in February 2018, killing the five persons on board, all British.
Among the deceased were two brothers, Stuart and Jason Hill, ages 30 and 32. Becky Dobson, Stuart Hill’s girlfriend, perished in the collision as well. At the scene, the three were pronounced deceased. Ellie Udall and her husband Jonathan suffered fatal injuries in the tragic collision, as days later, complications from their burns claimed their lives.
Jennifer Dorricott, Jason Hill’s girlfriend, and pilot Scott Booth both made it out alive, but they suffered life altering injuries.
That accident gave rise to a lawsuit, as Jonathan Udall’s parents sued the manufacturer, Airbus Helicopters SAS, and the aircraft’s owner, Papillon Airways Inc. The lawsuit, in January 2024, resulted in a historic $100 million judgement.
According to a Nevada court ruling, Airbus Helicopter was ordered to pay $75 million and Papillon Airways $24.6 million to Udall’s parents. The lawsuit claimed that the helicopter was unsafe for flight as the lack of a crash-resistant fuel system caused the helicopter to catch fire after crashing.
Wigwe, his wife, son Chizi, and their friend, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter accident in Southern California, United States on February 10 2024. The crash occurred over the Mojave Desert between 10 pm and 11 pm on Friday, February 9, 2024, California time, but between 7 am and 8 am on February 10, 2024, Nigerian time.
The family is planning a memorial in his honour in conjunction with his university, Wigwe University on Sunday February 9 in Rivers State.
