BREAKING: NSIB Identifies Systematic Failure as Cause of Wigwe’s Fatal Crash

BREAKING: NSIB Identifies Systematic Failure as Cause of Wigwe’s Fatal Crash

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has issued a response to the findings released by the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of former Access Holdings Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and three others.

In a statement signed by the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, and shared with our correspondent on Wednesday, the Bureau expressed disagreement with the NTSB’s conclusion, which primarily placed blame on the helicopter pilot. The NSIB argued that responsibility should not rest solely on the captain, but rather on the broader system that failed to prevent the tragic incident.

NSIB is the multimodal transport agency in Nigeria that is responsible for promoting transport safety and conducting objective and thorough investigations into transport accidents.

Similarly, the NTSB is the counterpart agency in the United States charged with fulfilling the same function as the NSIB.

More than a week ago, the NTSB in its final report cited “pilot disorientation” and a violation of flight protocols, especially the decision to proceed under visual flight rules in instrument meteorological conditions, as key causes of the crash.

While countering the NTSB report, the NSIB also debunked claims that it jointly investigated the matter with the American Transport board, adding that it was only updated with the process.

Although barely 24 hours earlier, in an exclusive chat with our Correspondent, the Director-General of the NSIB, Alex Badeh, confirmed that the final report of the NTSB was shared with its Nigerian counterpart.

When asked what the view of the NSIB was on the report, Badeh refused to comment, saying the agency does not comment on accident reports, as the report’s essence was not to apportion blame but to improve safety across the sector.

Eventually responding to the report, the NSIB in its statement said, “It appears there were systemic issues, and the flight risk assessment should have indicated a higher risk. While it’s easy to blame the pilot, there is a system behind the pilot that should have mitigated these risks.”

Also in February 2024, the NSIB said it offered its full cooperation to the NTSB in the investigation of the tragic crash that resulted in the death of the banker and five others.

In the latest statement, the Director General clarified that the NSIB did not collaborate directly with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during the investigation. Instead, he explained, “We participated as an interested party and were kept informed of the process by the NTSB, which led the investigation in the United States.”