Air Force Safety Officer Aids Ghanaian Investigation After Fatal Helicopter Crash

U.S. Air Force Capt. Dena McFadden, 449th Air Expeditionary Group flight safety officer, poses for a photo at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 10, 2025. On Aug. 6, 2025, a Ghana Air Force Chinese-made Harbin Z-9 helicopter crashed into a mountainside near Obuasi, killing eight people, including the nation’s Minister of Defense. Following a formal request from the Ghanaian government, McFadden and two other U.S. safety experts deployed within hours to assist local authorities in determining the cause of the accident. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christian Silvera)



By U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christian Silvera 449th Air Expeditionary Group Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Jan 26, 2026
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