The Z-9 military helicopter that crashed on August 6, 2025, killing eight people, was deemed airworthy before takeoff, according to an official investigation report released Tuesday. The committee’s findings indicate that deteriorating weather conditions, not human error, caused the tragedy.
At a media briefing in Accra on November 11, officials disclosed that the aircraft encountered poor visibility as it neared Obuasi, about 90 miles from the capital. The report noted that the flight had been normal until the weather suddenly worsened due to mist and low clouds.
According to the committee, at 9:56 a.m., the crew entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), flying through clouds after losing visual contact with the ground, and switched to instrument flight route (IFR). Despite the crew’s adherence to procedure, the aircraft was unable to navigate through the reduced visibility.
“There was no potential human error involved in the accident,” the investigative team concluded.
The Z-9 utility helicopter had taken off from Accra en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region but went off radar that morning. The crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Muniru, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, NADMO Deputy Director-General Samuel Aboagye, and three crew members.
The 30-day inquiry, chaired by National Security Coordinator Abdul-Osman Razak with technical assistance from the United States Air Force, presented its findings to the National Security Council on Monday before the public release the following day.
The committee reaffirmed that the helicopter was “in condition to fly on the day of the accident” but faced weather conditions that deteriorated too rapidly to recover.
