The fatal crash of a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter at Sikaman in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 8, 2025, has ignited conversations on safety of military aircraft operations.

While the recent helicopter crash claimed all 8 lives on board, including government officials, there have been incidents where pilots have been forced to land their aircrafts unexpectedly due to critical circumstances.

GhanaWeb chronicles three occasions in the past when Ghana Air Force helicopters made emergency landings.

2015

In 2015, when a Ghana Air Force helicopter carrying President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama was forced to land near Apatrapa in Kumasi due to poor weather conditions.

2020

In 2020, another Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter, with tail number GHF 630, experienced a tail rotor failure while flying near Kumbungu in the Northern Region.

On board were four crew members and other military personnel. The pilots executed an emergency landing in a nearby field, and everyone emerged unhurt.

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/My-prayers-saved-a-plane-from-crashing-Nana-Yaa-Jantuah-1995233

The crew landed after observing a malfunction of the tail rotor system, which provides anti-torque and directional control to the aircraft.

The incident happened while the crew were returning from Wa to Tamale.

A Preliminary Investigation Team (PIT) was constituted to conduct a full assessment of the damage to the aircraft to allow recovery to Air Force Base in Tamale.

The manufacturers of the aircraft, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) based in China, and their local representatives, were informed of the incident and provided all the necessary technical support.

The aircraft was one of four helicopters that were delivered to the Ghana Air Force in 2015.

2024

The most recent non-fatal emergency took place in March 2024 when another Ghana Air Force helicopter carrying 21 passengers and crew was forced down near Bonsokrom in the Western Region.

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Unstable weather conditions during an offshore inspection prompted the decision to land. Several people sustained minor injuries, but all survived.

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