By Kwabena Adu Koranteng
Helicopters have been instrumental in military, medical, commercial, and tourism operations since the 1960s. Despite their crucial role, they have also been the site of tragic accidents worldwide. While global statistics remain fragmented, Ghana’s aviation incidents offer especially notable cases that help illuminate the broader safety narrative.
Ghana’s Major Helicopter Accident Data
August 6, 2025 – Ghanaian Air Force Z-9 Crash
A military Harbin Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Ashanti Region (Adansi-Akrofuom District), killing all 8 people on board .
Among the deceased: Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed (Limuna), NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and three crew members—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah .
The crash is regarded as one of Ghana’s worst air disasters in over a decade. The cause remains under investigation; authorities, including the Fire Service, are leading inquiries alongside aviation and military teams .
A three-day national mourning period was declared, with flags lowered to half-mast and numerous public tributes and condolences pouring in .
May 8, 2014 – Offshore Helicopter Crash
A Volta River Aviation Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin crashed off Ghana’s Western coast, en route from Takoradi Airport to an offshore oil rig. Four out of eight people aboard were killed, while the rest survived .
These incidents underscore Ghana’s relatively limited but significant helicopter-related fatalities.
Historical Highlights Across Decades
Year Incident in Ghana Fatalities
1960s–70s Limited helicopter data; aviation reporting not systematic N/A
2014 Offshore AS365 Dauphin crash off Takoradi 4
2025 Military Z-9 crash near Obuasi; included key government officials 8
Elsewhere globally, similar tragedies occurred: Chicago (1960) Sikorsky crash (13), Vietnam War CH-53 losses (dozens), Los Angeles Airways (1968) S-61 disaster (23), and the 1986 Shetland Chinook crash (45) .
Global Context (1960–2025)
1960s–90s: Reporting was sporadic; most data comes from major accidents worldwide—Vietnam war zones, offshore platforms, and tour operations .
2000s: Improved safety baseline studies began to emerge, especially in the U.S. and offshore sectors .
2015–2020: Global fatality estimates declined—from approximately 341 in 2015 down to ~243 in 2020, according to health and safety compilations .
2020 (Global snapshot): Around 1,245 global helicopter fatalities, with roughly 1,300 accidents, according to IHST .
U.S. Trends (2019–2023): Fatal accidents dropped from 24 in 2019 to just 7 in 2023 .
Sightseeing tours (U.S.): Over 30 deadly accidents in 30 years, yielding 140+ fatalities .
Why Accurate Year-ly Global Tally Is Elusive
- Inconsistent reporting, especially from military or developing regions.
- Differing definitions—some figures include ground or combat fatalities; others omit sectors like offshore or medevac.
- Sector-specific tracking further complicates aggregation.
- Historic gaps—pre-2000 data are limited to large-scale incidents.
Closing Summary
Ghana has recorded at least two major helicopter incidents in recent times: 2014 offshore crash (4 fatalities) and 2025 military crash (8 fatalities, including senior officials).
Globally, while there’s no comprehensive yearly dataset from 1960 to 2025, patterns emerge: notable deadly accidents in early decades, followed by improvements in safety and decreased fatality count in more recent years.
However, incomplete and uneven global data, particularly from regions like Ghana, mean that caution is needed when interpreting any “total” numbers.
