Tragedy in the Skies: Ghana Air Force Helicopter Crashes After Takeoff, All 8 On Board Feared Dead

A Ghana Air Force Z9 helicopter carrying eight people has crashed and burst into flames shortly after taking off from Accra on Wednesday morning, claiming the lives of all on board.

Graphic Online has obtained a harrowing video showing the wreckage engulfed in flames, with several charred bodies visible at the crash site. Emergency services arrived promptly, but at least four bodies were found burnt beyond recognition.

The helicopter, which took off from the capital at 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi, lost radar contact shortly after departure and subsequently went down. The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) confirmed the tragic incident in a statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations.

“All efforts were being made to establish contact,” the statement noted before the wreckage was located.

On board were five passengers and three crew members.

The Z9 helicopter, commonly used for transport and medical evacuation missions, was last tracked over an undisclosed location before the crash. While the exact cause remains under investigation, preliminary speculation points to either technical failure or adverse weather conditions.

This devastating incident marks one of the deadliest air accidents in Ghana’s recent history.