Downdraft Caused August 6 Military Helicopter Crash — Investigation Report Reveals
The committee investigating the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash has concluded that the tragic incident was caused by a powerful downdraft that forced the aircraft to lose altitude suddenly while flying over high terrain.
Presenting the report in Accra on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Captain (Rtd.) Paul Fordjour, a member of the investigative team, explained that the helicopter encountered abrupt and severe environmental changes mid-flight, leading to a sharp descent that could not be recovered.
“The investigation found that the accident resulted from a sudden loss of altitude and lift due to a downdraft. This loss occurred without any change in power or pitch attitude, which is consistent with the effects of a downdraft linked to unstable weather over high terrain,” Captain Fordjour stated.
The committee, chaired by Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, was mandated to determine the cause of the crash and propose preventive measures to avert future occurrences. The final report cited a combination of technical, operational, and environmental factors as contributors to the disaster.
The crash involved a Harbin Z-9EH military helicopter (tail number GHF 631) operated by the Ghana Air Force. The aircraft departed Accra around 9:12 a.m. for Obuasi on an anti-illegal mining operation but lost radar contact shortly before crashing in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
All eight persons on board including senior government and military officials lost their lives. Among the deceased were Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
According to the report, the findings will feed into broader reforms aimed at enhancing aviation safety and operational protocols within the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly for aircraft engaged in high-risk missions and environmental conditions.
