The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) has concluded that a sudden and powerful downdraft — a strong downward air current — caused the helicopter crash that killed eight people in Ghana. The final report attributes the disaster to severe environmental conditions rather than mechanical failure or pilot error.
The finding was confirmed by Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired pilot and investigator with the AIB Ghana, during a briefing held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Jubilee House.
According to the report, the accident was triggered by a rapid loss of altitude and lift as the aircraft encountered a violent downdraft over elevated terrain.
“The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the sudden loss of altitude and lift due to downdraft,” Captain Forjoe explained.
He added that downdrafts can overpower a helicopter’s rotor system, drastically reducing lift even when the pilot maintains proper control inputs.
Read Also: Helicopter Crash Response Was Swift Despite Harsh Conditions – Captain Paul Forjoe
“This loss of altitude without change in power or pitch attitude is consistent with downdraft associated with changing environmental conditions over high terrain,” he said.
The report emphasized that the helicopter’s engines and controls were functioning properly before the crash, confirming that neither human error nor mechanical malfunction was a factor. Instead, the extreme and rapidly shifting weather patterns over mountainous terrain created an uncontrollable aerodynamic situation.
The findings officially shift the focus of the investigation from mechanical or operational failure to the devastating effects of unpredictable weather phenomena. Investigators noted that the incident underscores the risks of flying in areas with volatile atmospheric conditions where sudden downdrafts can occur.
Background
On August 6, 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9EH helicopter carrying eight people on a mission related to anti-illegal mining operations crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti Region, killing all on board.
The victims were:
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Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
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Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
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Limuna Mohammed Muniru, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
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Samuel Sarpong, NDC Vice-Chair
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Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
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Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
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Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu
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Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
The helicopter departed Kotoka International Airport in Accra at 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region when it lost radar contact. The wreckage was later discovered in a forested area, with all passengers and crew confirmed dead after a post-crash fire.
Footage from the scene showed the wreckage engulfed in flames amid dense vegetation, marking one of Ghana’s deadliest air disasters in more than a decade.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem