Nkawkaw, Ghana – Residents of Ampekrom in the Kwahu West Municipality were left startled on Monday morning, August 11, 2025, when a helicopter made an unexpected emergency landing — the second such incident involving the same aircraft within just five days.
The Incident at Ampekrom
According to reports gathered by Nkpromo.net, the helicopter, with registration number 9G-AFW, was flying from Accra to Kumasi when poor weather conditions forced the pilot to land at about 9:50 a.m. The aircraft touched down safely on a field near the New Generation Senior High School in Ampekrom.
Eyewitnesses say there were four people on board — the pilot, his assistant, and two Chinese nationals. The assistant pilot explained that worsening weather made it unsafe to continue the journey, prompting the emergency landing.
A Repeat Emergency in One Week
This is the second emergency landing for 9G-AFW in less than a week. On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, the same helicopter made a similar unscheduled landing at Ajumako Kokoben in the Central Region. The back-to-back incidents have raised public concerns about the helicopter’s operational safety.
Reactions from the Scene
The unexpected arrival caused brief panic among locals, especially in light of the recent plane crash in the Ashanti Region that claimed eight lives, including government officials.
Teachers at New Generation SHS initially began moving students to safety, fearing a crash, before realizing the aircraft had landed without incident.
Headmaster Mr. Backira Tahiru described the moment as “shocking,” adding that the school was thrown into confusion until it became clear the landing was controlled.
Aftermath
Police arrived at the scene to take a report from the pilot. Shortly afterward, the helicopter took off again — without the two Chinese passengers, who reportedly continued to Kumasi by car.
While no injuries occurred in either emergency landing, the close timing of the two events has sparked conversations about aviation safety protocols and the airworthiness of 9G-AFW.