‘Various’ agencies to investigate helicopter crash

More agencies are expected to set up investigative committees to look into the cause of a helicopter crash that occurred on Thursday, May 8, 2014 offshore Takoradi.

The helicopter was found on Tuesday, May 20 after almost a fortnight of intensive search.

The crash resulted in the loss of four lives, the final body being found eight days after the disaster.

Speaking to TV3’s Sandra Amarquaye, Albert Taylor, the Director of Air Traffic for the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said the helicopter was located around 4:00pm on Tuesday by divers and water vehicles, which have been carrying out the search exercise since the disaster struck.

“The owners of the helicopter in Abidjan have confirmed it is their helicopter,” he said about the found wreckage.

Mr Taylor said the found helicopter still has onboard “some essential computers that will help in giving the total analysis on what went wrong.” “It will enable us to plan solutions accordingly,” he added.

Already, the Ministry of Transport has set up a five-member investigation committee to look into the cause of the crash while experts from the United States of America and France have been in the country to help.

“In addition to the investigation being done, various agencies will do their investigations,” Mr Taylor noted.

He said that informed the decision of GCAA to temporarily suspend the operations of Volta River Aviation, operators of the helicopter.