By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) has concluded that a powerful and unexpected downdraft was responsible for the helicopter crash that killed eight people in Ghana.
This final report brings closure to the technical aspect of the tragedy, drawing attention to the extreme weather conditions that developed over high-altitude terrain.
At a briefing held on Tuesday, November 11, at the Jubilee House, Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired pilot and investigator with the AAIBG, confirmed the official findings.
He stated that the crash stemmed from a dangerous weather phenomenon that disrupted the helicopter’s stability and altitude control.
“The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the sudden loss of altitude and lift due to downdraft,” stated Captain Paul Forjoe.
A downdraft, which is a forceful downward rush of air, can overpower a helicopter’s rotors and drastically reduce lift in a matter of seconds. The report emphasized that the event was purely environmental, not the result of any human or mechanical failure.
“This loss of altitude without change in power or pitch attitude is consistent with downdraft associated with changing environmental conditions over high terrain,” Captain Paul Forjoe explained.
The findings indicate that although the pilot maintained proper control inputs and engine power, the intense downward airflow forced the helicopter earthward, leading to the fatal crash.
By releasing this technical conclusion, investigators have effectively ruled out mechanical malfunction or pilot error, confirming that the deadly incident was triggered by an extreme atmospheric event.
The tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers of flying over mountainous or weather-volatile regions, where rapid shifts in wind and pressure can pose serious risks even to experienced pilots.
Background
On August 6, 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter carrying eight officials en route to an anti-illegal mining event crashed into a forested mountainside in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. All eight people on board died in the accident.
Among the victims were Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
Others who perished included Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Mohammed Muniru, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the aircraft departed from Kotoka International Airport in Accra at 9:12 a.m., heading northwest toward Obuasi’s gold-mining area. Shortly afterward, it disappeared from radar.
When rescue teams located the wreckage, all passengers had been burned beyond recognition due to a post-crash fire. Videos from the crash site showed scattered debris engulfed in flames, with bystanders attempting to offer help.
This incident ranks among Ghana’s deadliest air disasters in more than ten years.
