Retired Ghana Air Force Officer Wing Commander Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor has called for the investigation into the recent helicopter crash to focus on why the aircraft lost control and collided with a tree, as reported by the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces stated that the helicopter went off radar and crashed into a tree following the tragic incident on August 6.
However, speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Monday, August 11, Wing Commander Sogbodjor expressed doubts about the likelihood of the helicopter hitting a tree given the typical height of trees in Ghana.
He explained, “So once it’s gone missing and it’s over a forested area, then the fears run through your mind that this is what is going to happen. If you’re flying alongside a savannah area where you don’t have trees and obstacles, it can cause you a force landing. In a forested area, you can’t land on top of the trees.”
He continued, “And also, we don’t have any tree this country, which is higher than 1,000 feet or 2,000 feet. So something must have happened for the airplane to lose control and come down to hit the trees.”
Wing Commander Sogbodjor further clarified, When pilots are going to fly while at the course separation height, between 1,000, 2,000 above any obstacle-I don’t think this helicopter was bound to fly treetop, which can be done in different scenario.”
He added, “But I can tell you that the safety records of Ghana Air Force is very high, it’s trained very high. It’s not a loose Air Force that we don’t take off the planes and pilots, the pilots are highly trained. Because this helicopter flies morning, noon and night. So it’s not like they have the inability to fly in the kind of weather people are speculating.”
The helicopter crash on August 6 claimed the lives of eight prominent government and military officials.
Among the victims were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, NDC Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Two of the victims, both Muslims, were laid to rest on Sunday, August 10, at the Military Cemetery in Accra.
The government has scheduled a state funeral for all victims on Friday, August 15, and is inviting the public to send in tributes in their honor.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
