Video Showing Z-9 Helicopter Searching for Safe Landing Spot Surfaces Online
- A TikTok video has showed a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter hovering low over a Kumasi neighborhood, sparking public concern and debate
- It was not confirmed whether the helicopter in the video was the same one that crashed in Adansi Akrofuom on August 6, killing all on board
- Ghanaians have shared differing views, saying the video is old and uneventful, or criticising settlement planning for affecting emergency landings
A video has been sighted online showing a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter flying at quite a low altitude over a Kumasi neighborhood.
Source: TikTok
The video posted on TikTok, taken by a resident, showed the helicopter hovering around slowly and flying low, as if assessing the surroundings or looking for a safe place to touch down.
According to the resident who took the video, the crew appeared to wave at him from the cockpit as they were hovering around his head.
It’s unknown whether this helicopter was the one that crashed in Obuasi, which was also covered by the BBC.
The Z-9 helicopter's low-altitude movement may have been part of the mission or a response to the developing situation.
The user also used the caption 'The moment Ghana Air Force military came to meet the king, and this is the first time a helicopter landed in Kwabre East though'.
YEN.com.gh contacted a certified Ghanaian cabin crew from Spain, Abubakari Helena, for her thoughts on the trending video that surfaced shortly after the crash news.
She said:
"In my perspective, flying at such a low altitude, just above residential areas, is wrong, and the military could handle it better. As a pilot, you don’t just start looking for a place to land; you should already know your designated landing point, and it should be indicated. In addition, there should be more advanced training on how to properly maneuver helicopters in such situations."
Watch the videos below:
Reactions to video of hovering Z-9 helicopter
The trending video has sparked mixed reactions online, with many expressing concern over the apparent emergency-like behavior of the helicopter seen hovering low over homes.
Some debated when the footage was captured, especially given an aircraft had crashed in Obuasi days earlier.
Check out some of the comments below:
Tejay commented:
“I’m just laughing at how everyone says what they like… anyway, this is an old video and nothing happened. They needed a safe place to land, and they landed peacefully.”
Sharly’s Couture commented:
“I saw this helicopter, it was flying a little too low. That was about a week ago or so. I didn’t think much about it.”
Adwoa Churchill commented:
“This is an old one. He searched for a good place and landed in peacefully.”
Alfreda commented:
“If there were to be a good settlement, they would have found a good place.”
McBible added:
“You've built houses like something, where do you want it to land. we don't think of certain things or what we know, single room, self-contained, story building, etc, we should try to adopt the foreign style of building.”
On Tuesday, August 6, 2025, a GAF Z-9 helicopter crashed during a routine military operation near Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region.
All eight people on board, including ministers, perished. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Ghana Armed Forces.
Source: Twitter
The tragedy has led Ghana to a state of national mourning, and condolences have been pouring in for the fallen heroes.
Z-9 helicopter's crash history across continents
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the Z-9 helicopter, which was developed by China in 1981, has been involved in several crashes worldwide, including in Ghana on August 6, 2025, that led to the death of eight men.
Though the aircraft has not been flagged for major safety issues, past crashes have happened in Cambodia, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Cameroon, Mali, China, and Zambia, usually in training or official missions.
Most of these incidents have been linked to human error, bad weather, or engine failure. The Z-9 is still widely used and known for its dual-engine design, which helps it stay airborne even if an engine fails.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
