Troubled Skies: Spotlight on China’s Z-9 Helicopter after Ghana tragedy
The tragic crash of a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter in the Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025 — which claimed the lives of eight individuals, including Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment Alhaji Dr. Murtala Muhammed — has cast renewed scrutiny on the safety record of the Chinese-manufactured aircraft.
Built by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, the Z-9 is a multi-role utility helicopter developed from the French-designed Eurocopter Dauphin.
While widely adopted by China’s military and exported to various countries across Africa and Asia, the helicopter has been the subject of persistent concerns over safety, structural reliability, and maintenance challenges.
A Pattern of Crashes Across Africa
The Ghana tragedy is not an isolated incident. In recent years, several African nations operating the Z-9 have experienced serious — and sometimes fatal — accidents involving the aircraft:
Zambia (2013): A newly delivered Z-9 crashed shortly after arrival, killing a major and injuring another officer.
Cameroon (2014): One of the country’s four Z-9 helicopters crashed within six months of procurement. Another went down during a patrol mission.
Mali (2019): The last operational Z-9 in the country’s fleet was destroyed in a crash, ending its short deployment.
Gabon (2011): A Z-9 involved in a VIP transport mission crashed, prompting a quiet review of the entire fleet.
These repeated incidents highlight a troubling pattern, especially among countries that use the Z-9 for critical roles such as troop transport, search-and-rescue, and anti-poaching operations.
Pakistan Navy Also Raised Alarm
Concerns about the Z-9 extend beyond Africa. The Pakistan Navy has publicly criticized the Z-9EC — a naval variant — citing numerous mechanical and operational failures, including:
Tail rotor blade failures, causing the aircraft to swing dangerously during flight.
Corrosion of main rotor blades due to exposure to seawater, reducing their operational lifespan drastically.
Landing gear issues, with faulty brake valves leading to multiple tire bursts during landings.
Despite establishing a dedicated maintenance facility, Pakistani authorities reported that many problems persisted, primarily due to substandard Chinese spare parts, according to internal reviews and regional defense sources.
A Worrying Future for Air Safety?
While the Z-9 remains in service in several countries, including Ghana, recent developments raise fresh questions about the reliability of Chinese-supplied military hardware in high-risk missions.
Aviation experts point to three key issues undermining safety: weak after-sales support, poor-quality spare parts, and inadequate training for pilots and maintenance crews. These deficiencies, they say, have contributed to the helicopter’s elevated risk profile, especially in Africa.
As Ghana launches a formal investigation into the August 6 crash, the tragedy may serve as a turning point — prompting governments across the continent to re-evaluate procurement standards for critical military and emergency aviation assets.
