Same crew operated Z-9 on last three flights before fatal crash – Captain Forjoe

Aircraft Accident Investigator Captain Paul Forjoe has revealed that the three crew members aboard the Z-9 helicopter that fatally crashed on August 6, 2025, had previously flown the same aircraft.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, to present the findings of the investigative board probing the crash, Captain Forjoe disclosed that the crew had operated the helicopter during its last three flights before the tragic incident.

“It's on record that their last three flights before the subject flight, the same crew had flown all three flights before, on the same helicopter,” he disclosed.

LIVESTREAMED: Government releases report on fatal August 6 helicopter crash

Providing a detailed breakdown of the flight log, Captain Forjoe indicated that the crew members had flown on August 2, 3, and 4, [2025] with varying flight times and destinations.

He added that a day before the tragic incident on August 6, 2025, the crew had taken adequate rest in accordance with Ghana Air Force regulations.

“On August 2, they came from their base in Takoradi to Accra. It was a medivac flight, one hour long. On August 3, the following day, they flew from Accra to Cape Coast and back to Accra, lasting one hour and 20 minutes. It was also a medical evacuation flight (medivac). On August 4, they were tasked to fly from Accra to [destination] and back to Accra. That was a two-hour, 30-minute flight. That was a bullion cargo flight,” Captain Forjoe stated.

He added, “On the 5th of August, they rested. It helps to note that in the Ghana Air Force, there are flying limitations for the crew: 10 hours per week maximum, 62 hours maximum per month. Before a flight, it’s also required that if you've had a rest of eight hours, you are considered rested and fit for duty. They had in excess of 24 hours of rest.”

About the crash:

The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 involving a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter en route from Accra to Obuasi. The aircraft reportedly went down in the Dampa Range Forest Reserve, near Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

Onboard were five officials and three crew members attending the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).

The five officials were:

• Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence

• Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation

• Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

• Samuel Aboagye, former NDC parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East and NADMO Deputy Director-General

Black Wednesday: How Z-9 helicopter crashed - Investigative team details

• Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator

The three Ghana Air Force crew members were:

• Wing Commander Peter Bafemi Anala

• Flight Lieutenant Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu

• Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah

MAG/MA

Abena Osei Asare breaks silence on her 'showdown' with DVLA boss at PAC sitting