The Lead investigator in the August 6 helicopter crash, Captain Paul Forjoe has firmly dismissed claims that the August 6 Ghana Air Force Z-9EH military helicopter crash was the result of pilot inexperience or human error.
Speaking during the presentation of the Helicopter Crash Report at the Presidency on Tuesday, November 11, Captain Forjoe said the investigation thoroughly examined the qualifications, experience, and competence of the flight crew and found them to be highly trained and fully certified.
“To rule out any potential human causes, we examined the qualifications, experience, and competence of the crew,” Captain Forjoe explained.
He revealed that the captain of the ill-fated flight held a postgraduate certificate in Safety and Accident Investigation from Cranfield University, UK, obtained in 2024.
The pilot was also a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)–certified commercial and instrument-rated pilot from the Bristol Academy, Florida, USA, a qualification earned in April 2015.
Within the Ghana Air Force, the pilot was recategorized in March 2025 as a Category C pilot, which qualifies an officer to serve as captain on the Z-9 helicopter type. He also held a green instrument rating, the highest level of proficiency currently recognized in the service.
Captain Forjoe clarified that pilot categories in the Air Force range from D (entry-level) to A (highest). However, at present, Category C remains the top operational category, meaning the captain had reached the highest level attainable within the Ghana Air Force.
“The pilot was totally competent to be flying this aircraft,” he affirmed.
The co-pilot, according to the lead investigator, was also an FAA-certified commercial and instrument-rated pilot, having qualified from Bristol Academy, Florida, in April 2023.
He was recategorized in December 2024 as a Category D pilot on the Z-9 helicopter type and held a white instrument rating, indicating operational proficiency.
Captain Forjoe added that the investigation team went further to review the medical and psychological records of the captain, co-pilot, and onboard technician to eliminate any possible human or health-related causes.
“A review of the medical and personal records revealed no known medical or psychological conditions in the captain, co-pilot, or technician at the time of flight,” he said
Eyewitness accounts from personnel at the airbase described all three as calm, well-prepared, and professional during pre-flight checks.
The investigation found no evidence of fatigue, stress, or medication use that could have affected their performance.
Captain Forjoe explained that the flight crew’s competence and state of health were not contributing factors in the accident, reaffirming that the crash resulted from environmental and technical conditions, not pilot error.
