A downed helicopter in the open desert on Friday (February 9) near Nipton left six people dead. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department confirmed that the helicopter crashed approximately one-quarter mile east of Interstate 15, near the northern border of the Mojave National Preserve and near the state line at approximately 10:15 p.m.
The helicopter is reported to have left from Palm Springs Airport and was headed toward Las Vegas.
Though the people killed in the crash have not been identified by the County Coroner, a major Nigerian bank announced that it’s CEO, Herbert Wigwe, was one of the six killed, along with his wife and son.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Inquiries about the crash should be directed accordingly.
