Retired security expert Colonel Festus Aboagye has detailed critical procedures for declaring aircraft emergencies in Ghana, countering public confusion after a military helicopter crash.
His August 16 TV3 interview emphasized that disappearing from radar doesn’t immediately signal disaster.
“Declaring distress happens after 60 minutes, not 30,” Aboagye stated, addressing misconceptions following the Airforce Z9 tragedy. He explained radar limitations: “A plane flying below 1,000–3,000 feet or in rough terrain may vanish without crashing.
ICAO protocols mandate a 30-minute alert phase, then 30 distress minutes before emergency status.”
Detailing the August 6 incident timeline, he noted: “After disappearing at 10:02 AM, controllers waited until 10:32 to initiate alerts.
Only at 11:02 with no contact was distress declared.” This counters theories the helicopter crashed immediately after losing radar at 10:16.
Imagine flying through Ghana’s mountainous regions where radar coverage drops. Aboagye’s insights reveal how terrain and altitude dictate response windows a nuance often lost in public crises.
His clarification aims to prevent rushed judgments during future incidents while upholding ICAO standards.
