The investigative Board that probed the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash has attributed the cause of the tragedy to a sudden loss of altitude and lift resulting from a powerful downdraft.
Presenting findings of the report at a press briefing on Tuesday, Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe, a member of the committee, explained that the crash was caused by abrupt changes in environmental conditions – highlighting that the tragedy had less to do with a mechanical failure or human error and rather an overwhelming impact of adverse weather phenomena.
“The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the sudden loss of altitude and lift due to downdraft.
“This loss of altitude without a change in power or pitch altitude is consistent with a downdraft associated with changing environmental conditions over high terrain,” Captain Forjoe stated.
According to investigators who looked into the August 6 helicopter crash, this is what caused it. pic.twitter.com/QKeod4xbjU
— Felix Kwakye Ofosu (@FelixKwakyeOfo1) November 11, 2025
Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe also disclosed that the crashed helicopter did not have key safety systems such as the Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS/EGPWS), advanced terrain mapping navigation, and automatic flight control systems. These, he noted, may have reduced the crew’s situational awareness during the flight.
But he also indicated that “the aircraft was declared serviceable and signed off by the pilot, who was fully competent to operate it.”
The findings of the committee were initially presented to the presidency on Monday ahead of the briefing on Tuesday.
The August 6 helicopter crash that happened at the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region led to the deaths of eight individuals, including Defence and Environment ministers, Dr. Omane Boamah and Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
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