Sudden altitude change caused August 6 helicopter crash

The investigative committee probing the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash has revealed that the fatal incident was caused by a sudden loss of altitude and lift triggered by a powerful downdraft.

At a public briefing on Tuesday, November 11, Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe, a member of the committee, explained that the aircraft encountered abrupt changes in environmental conditions while flying over high terrain, leading to the tragic descent.

“The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the sudden loss of altitude and lift due to downdraft. This loss of altitude without a change in power or pitch altitude is consistent with a downdraft associated with changing environmental conditions over high terrain,” Captain Forjoe stated.

The committee, chaired by the Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, was tasked with determining the cause of the crash and recommending preventive measures. Its final report highlighted a combination of technical, operational, and environmental factors that contributed to the tragedy.

The crash involved a Chinese-made Harbin Z-9EH military helicopter (tail number GHF 631) operated by the Ghana Air Force. The aircraft departed Accra at about 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi on an anti-illegal mining operation but lost radar contact before crashing in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

All eight passengers and crew on board lost their lives, including senior government officials and military officers such as Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.

The report further indicated that rescue teams faced difficult terrain and poor weather conditions, which delayed early recovery efforts. However, response teams managed to reach the crash site within approximately two hours.

The committee also recommended that the Ghana Air Force strengthen weather monitoring systems, improve flight route planning, and enhance pilot training on adverse weather management to minimize similar risks in future operations.

By: Bawa Musah

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