A Ghana Air Force (GAF) helicopter with registration number GHF 696 yesterday made an emergency landing within the general areas of Bonsokrom, near Agona Nkwanta in the Western Region at about 12:30pm.
The helicopter had on board 21 passengers made up of staff of the Ghana National Gas Company and aircrew who were conducting routine offshore powerline inspection of the Atuabo Gas Plant when the incident occurred.
According to the military, all passengers on board were accounted for and there were no fatalities. They were later evacuated and undergoing routine medical checkup at the time of filing this report yesterday.
Meanwhile, preliminary assessments have commenced to ascertain the cause of the incident.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces and signed by its Director-General of Public Relations, Brigadier Aggrey Quashie.
An initial story following the incident had it that the chopper crashed near a bush on a hill at Bonsokrom New Site, in the Ahanta West Municipality.
It was alleged that the accident occurred when the aircraft was obstructed by a thunderstorm while in motion.
According to information gathered, some of the residents tried to go near the scene, but were prevented by the military who cordoned off the scene.
“The military prevented people from taking pictures of the scene with their mobile phones and those who took pictures had their phones seized,” one of the eyewitnesses said.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE in an interview, the Chief of Enuanom Asa, in the Ahanta West Municipality, Nana Tenyiwa III, who claimed to be an eyewitness said the emergency landing occurred near the main Busia road.
He said he was in the studios of a local radio station for a programme when he had a call that an aircraft had crashed at Bonsokrom.
“So we organised ourselves and went to the scene and saw the aircraft. It was an Air Force helicopter and I also saw the eight personnel who were injured, and were later rushed to the hospital,” he added.
He said, “I was informed 22 persons were onboard the aircraft. In fact, I also saw the pilot who was sitting on the ground with some injuries.”
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
