A retired Air Force officer has appealed for calm and patience from the public as investigations continue into the recent military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 6 August, claimed the lives of eight people, including ministers of state, other government officials, and crew members.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, 13 August, Wing Commander Nelson Patrick Sorgbordzor (Rtd) explained the technical and procedural complexities involved in retrieving and interpreting data from the aircraft’s black box.

“The only thing we can do is to be patient,” he said. “The black box will be taken to the manufacturer for opening and decoding. The information will then be sent to the operator. Even then, the details are confidential, whether the ministry decides to make them public is another matter.”

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He stressed that the analysis of black box data is not an immediate process. “It’s not a two- or three-day affair,” he noted, adding that even in countries with advanced technology, such as the United States, similar investigations take time.

Comparing the process to reading a personal diary, Commander Sorgbordzor described the intricate nature of decoding flight data. “It’s not just like opening your diary and reading what’s inside,” he said.

He indicated that the black box is likely already in China for analysis and urged Ghanaians to remain patient while the investigation runs its course.