Family of Ogunbanjo, Killed in California Helicopter Crash with Wigwe, Others, Files Lawsuit Against Charter Company

The family of the late former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, has taken legal action against the United States helicopter company, Orbic Air, following his tragic death in a helicopter crash earlier this year.

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that Orbic Air LLC operated the helicopter in hazardous weather conditions, leading to the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Ogunbanjo and several others. The crash occurred on February 9 in the Mojave Desert near the Nevada border, Southern California.

Among the passengers who perished in the accident were Dr. Herbert Wigwe, former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, along with his wife and son. Additionally, both pilots, Benjamin Pettingill and Blake Hansen, lost their lives in the crash.

According to the court filing, the Ogunbanjo family contends that the helicopter should not have been flown in the adverse weather conditions described as a “wintry mix” of snow and rain. The legal action seeks answers and accountability for what the family deems as a preventable tragedy.

Attorney Andrew C. Robb, representing the Ogunbanjo family, emphasized the dangers of flying helicopters in snowy and icy conditions. Robb highlighted the preventable nature of the flight and questioned the decision to take off under such circumstances.

The lawsuit, filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court, names Orbic Air and its CEO, Brady Bowers, as defendants, alleging wrongful death and negligence. It also includes the successors of the deceased pilots as defendants.

Despite attempts to reach Orbic Air for comment, the company has remained silent on the matter.

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the crash, which left a trail of wreckage across the desert terrain. Preliminary findings indicate that the helicopter was operational at the time of the crash, with witnesses reporting adverse weather conditions in the area.

The helicopter departed from Palm Springs Airport en route to Boulder City, Nevada, where Ogunbanjo intended to attend the Super Bowl. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and compensation for funeral expenses and other damages incurred by the Ogunbanjo family.

Notably, Robb’s firm, Robb and Robb LLC, previously represented Vanessa Bryant in her lawsuit following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of her husband, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and their daughter, Gianna, among others, in 2020.