The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) has urged the public to refrain from speculating about the cause of the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight personnel, including two ministers of state.

The Defence Ministry, in a statement released on August 25, said Acting Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has commissioned a board to oversee the investigations.

Members of the team include officials from the United States who are providing technical assistance.

Addressing a press conference at the Bureau’s office in Accra, the Acting Commissioner John M. K. Wumborti stressed that investigations into the incident are being carried out with strict adherence to international protocols and standards.

He noted that while various reports and commentaries have suggested possible causes, including a bird strike, the bureau does not rely on speculation but on verified data.

“We don’t speculate. We go in as investigators to investigate and come out with a finding. For now, we don’t have any reason or information about what happened,” he explained.

The acting commissioner confirmed that although the AIB does not usually investigate military aircraft, the bureau has been given approval to participate in the probe.

A team led by retired pilot Captain Paul Forjoe and a senior aviation engineer has been tasked with representing the AIB in the process.

The AIB reiterated that its mandate is not to assign blame but to make recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

They assured the public that once the investigation is completed, its findings will feed into concrete safety reforms.