Wigwe’s PA, Olushola Faleye, narrates how luggage issues prevented him from taking ill-fated flight

Faleye said he was supposed to fly in the helicopter, but on second thought, he decided to accompany their luggage by road since the chopper could not carry it.

Wigwe’s PA Narrates How Luggage Issues Prevented Him From Taking Ill-Fated Flight pic.twitter.com/WQh55pUIfd

— Channels Television (@channelstv) March 6, 2024

✔ Olushola Faleye, Herbert Wigwe’s key aide, escaped death in the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of his boss, the Access Bank CEO’s wife, and son

✔ Addressing a crowd of mourners in Lagos during the funeral service of the late banker, Faleye said he still sees himself on the ill-fated flight with the Wigwes and others 

✔ Wigwe was among six people who died on February 9, 2024, after a helicopter in which they were travelling crashed near Nipton, California, USA

Speaking while mourning and eulogising Wigwe at the Night of Tributes on Wednesday night, March 6, Faleye said while on his way to Las Vegas by road, he tried calling his boss and the others on the chopper, but none of the calls pulled through.

He said:

I remember before his helicopter flight, during our 11-hour trip from London to Halloran Springs, I walked up to him (Wigwe) and asked how comfortable it is for him to fly at night. He said ‘this is America’.

When we landed, everybody was filled with joy, and we waited to be cleared by the Immigration. Then, we came out. Coming out, we had two vans waiting. One was to take us to go board the chopper, the other was to take our luggaes, because they cannot go on the chopper.

Throughout my years of working with him, I have always held the notion that flying that way is not a luxury for me, I am on duty. 

Because of the pieces of luggage which would arrive much later than the helicopter journey, Faleye opted to travel by road to deliver the items to his boss.

He added, “As they were loading the luggage, this thought started playing in my mind that, okay, you will fly a chopper, one hour you are there. The next three and a half hours, they are not going to come. Will I go to bed, no. I still have to sit down and wait for these luggage to come. I was like, why not just go with the luggage and get there and deliver it to him and others in the room. Like I said, I always reason in the line of duty. And I went up to him, I said, sir, I think it’s safer and will be secure for me to just ride and bring the luggage to you. He said, ‘brilliant idea,’ and I said, ‘safe flight.’”