Helicopter makes emergency landing in Nkawkaw amid poor weather

A helicopter with registration number 9G-AFW was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday, August 11. It landed on the premises of New Generation International School in Nkawkaw Ampekrom, Eastern Region, after encountering poor weather conditions during the flight.

The pilot, speaking in an interview monitored by today.com.gh, said the aircraft was flying from Accra to Kumasi for an undisclosed project when rapidly changing weather patterns made it unsafe to proceed.

“The weather ahead was not favourable, so we decided to land here to ensure everyone’s safety,” the pilot explained, adding that the decision was taken in line with standard safety procedures for such situations.

No injuries or property damage were recorded. School authorities said the helicopter landed smoothly on an open section of the compound, and the aircraft will continue its journey once conditions improve.

The incident comes only days after another helicopter made an unscheduled landing at the Presbyterian School Park in Ajumako Kokoben, also due to bad weather, raising concerns over the frequency of such occurrences.

Witnesses, including the Headmaster of the New Generation International School, praised the pilot for his composure and professionalism, noting that students were playing nearby at the time. “Any slight error could have been disastrous, so we are grateful for the pilot’s skill,” he said.

Community leaders have urged the government and aviation authorities to intensify weather monitoring and make pre-flight weather checks a top priority, especially in light of recent tragedies.

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The emergency landing follows closely on the heels of the August 6 military helicopter crash in Adansi Akrofuom, Ashanti Region, which claimed the lives of two cabinet ministers—Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed—along with three government officials and three crew members. That incident, also suspected to be weather-related, has renewed calls for stricter aviation safety measures across the country.