The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) has concluded that a sudden and powerful downdraft caused the tragic helicopter crash that claimed eight lives in Ghana.
This final finding brings closure to the technical phase of the investigation, emphasizing the role of severe and unpredictable weather conditions over high terrain.
Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired pilot and lead investigator with the AIB Ghana, confirmed the cause during a briefing at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, November 11.
“The investigation determined that the accident was caused by a sudden loss of altitude and lift due to a downdraft,” Capt. Forjoe stated.
He explained that a downdraft—a strong downward current of air—can overwhelm a helicopter’s rotors, sharply reducing lift and causing a rapid descent. The report indicated that the aircraft’s loss of altitude occurred despite correct pilot inputs and without any sign of mechanical malfunction.
“This loss of altitude without any change in power or pitch attitude is consistent with a downdraft caused by changing environmental conditions over elevated terrain,” Capt. Forjoe added.
The findings show that even though the pilot maintained the proper controls, the intense downward air current forced the helicopter out of the sky, resulting in the fatal crash.
The report rules out pilot error or equipment failure, placing full responsibility on the severe atmospheric conditions. It also underscores the dangers of flying over mountainous or highly variable terrain, where weather can deteriorate suddenly and unpredictably.
Background
On August 6, 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter carrying eight people to an anti–illegal mining event crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti Region, killing everyone on board.
Among the victims were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed Limuna; Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr. Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampofo; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The Ghana Armed Forces reported that the helicopter departed Kotoka International Airport in Accra at 9:12 a.m., heading northwest toward Obuasi’s gold-mining district. It went off radar before reaching its destination.
Rescue teams later discovered the wreckage deep in the forest, where the aircraft had caught fire after impact. All eight occupants were found burnt beyond recognition.
Footage from the crash site showed smouldering debris scattered through the forest as bystanders attempted to assist.
The disaster ranks among Ghana’s worst aviation tragedies in more than a decade, highlighting the persistent challenges of flight operations in volatile tropical weather conditions.
