An Air Force Z9 utility helicopter carrying eight persons has crashed on Wednesday, resulting in fatalities.
According to initial reports, the victims were burnt beyond recognition.
The aircraft, which departed Accra at 9:12 a.m., lost radar contact shortly after takeoff and was later discovered to have crashed and caught fire. Video footage circulating online shows the wreckage engulfed in flames, with charred bodies visible at the scene.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) confirmed the incident in a statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations. “All efforts are being made to establish contact,” the statement said, before the wreckage was located.
The helicopter was carrying three crew members and five passengers. The identities of those on board and the purpose of the flight have not yet been disclosed. Emergency services are currently at the crash site, conducting recovery operations.
The Z9 helicopter is typically used by the Ghana Air Force for transport and medical evacuation. It was last tracked over an undisclosed location before it lost contact with air traffic control.
While the cause of the crash has not been officially determined, preliminary speculation points to either technical failure or adverse weather conditions.
