A retired Ghana Air Force officer and Wing Commander, Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor, has called for caution and patience as investigations continue into the August 6 Z-9 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, he stressed the importance of the helicopter’s black box in determining the cause of the crash.
“If the helicopter had exploded mid-air, its parts would have scattered. Only the black box can reveal what truly happened. The black box starts recording the moment the helicopter is started. Since all the crew members perished, it is the only device that can certify the events leading to the crash” he said.
He urged the public not to rush into conclusions.
“We should be patient and leave it for the authorities to figure out what happened. None of us were in the helicopter, so we cannot speculate.”
Commander Sogbodjor also disclosed challenges in accessing crash sites.
“Where the helicopter fell, inside a dense forest, it was difficult to reach. That is why the armed forces acted the way they did. Years ago, a helicopter crash in Obuasi took five days just to locate the wreckage, so no one should speak about things they do not know.”
He explained the process for aviation investigations: “Pilots follow strict laws when flying and the armed forces have procedures to conduct thorough investigations. Something may have happened to bring the helicopter down at this height, but until we get results from the black box, we should tread cautiously.”
Commander Sogbodjor added that speculation about mid-air explosions or adverse weather should be avoided.
“No pilot sets out planning to crash. The Z-9 came down in a forest and was retrievable, which allowed the recovery of the bodies early. Speculating without evidence is unhelpful.”
The helicopter, carrying three crew and five passengers, was flying from Accra to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining event when it crashed.
President John Mahama has announced the establishment of an Accident Investigation Board to probe the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, suggested that evidence points to a mid-air blast rather than impact at crash, as reported on Okay FM.
While adverse weather has been suggested as a factor, Commander Sogbodjor stressed that “technical conclusions should come only from the official investigation. This is standard practice in aviation, and it is prudent to await the findings of the appointed experts before drawing any conclusions.”
Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
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