A microlight aircraft crashed and burst into flames near a school park in Tema Community One on Monday afternoon, killing both occupants on board, emergency services have confirmed.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) issued a statement confirming that the aircraft, with registration number 9G-ADV, was en route from Ho to Accra when it went down at approximately 14:18 Zulu time—just after 2 pm local time.
“The aircraft was flying from Ho to Accra, estimating Accra at 1520 Z. The last contact with the aircraft on radio was 1418 Z,” the GCAA statement read. “There were two persons on board.”
The crash occurred at the Oninku Drive School Park at Site 17 in Tema Community One, close to the TMA Daycare facility, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and prompting an immediate emergency response.
Teachers and pupils evacuated before firefighters arrived
Divisional Officer II Ebenezer Yenzu, the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, told journalists that firefighters received a distress call at approximately 12:59 pm.
“We received a call around 12:59 that there was an outbreak of fire at Community 1, Site 18. And so as we rushed to the scene, we got into the Daycare, TMA Daycare and realised that there was a blazing fire involving a chopper that had fallen just close to the wall of the pre-school,” Mr Yenzu explained.
By the time emergency personnel arrived, teachers and pupils had already evacuated the school compound and gathered safely on the street.
“But by the time we got here, the teachers and the pupils had just evacuated the school and were just on the street, and so none of the students or the pupils or the teachers got injured,” he confirmed.
Joint operation to extinguish blaze
Personnel from the GNFS, supported by officers of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA), worked to douse the flames and secure the surrounding area.
“So our men from our end and GHAPOHA tried to douse the fire and also ensure that we’ll be able to at least cordon off the area so as not to create any hazard to the occupants who are around,” Mr Yenzu said.
After extinguishing the blaze, responders discovered the bodies of two males within the wreckage.
“But at the end of the day, when we finished dousing the flame, we realised that it’s a chopper which had two persons on board, two persons on board, all males, and we’ve been able to retrieve the bodies and sent them to the morgue through the police for preservation and autopsy,” he stated.
Aircraft identified, investigations underway
Officials have confirmed the aircraft’s registration number as 9G-ADV, though questions remain about the precise circumstances leading to the crash.
“As we speak, we’ve been able to identify the number of the aircraft, which is 9G-ADV, we’ve been able to identify the aircraft, but as to where it is coming from and the cause of the accident, we are still investigating it,” Mr Yenzu said.
Security personnel have cordoned off the crash site while authorities begin investigations, with aviation experts expected to assist in determining the cause of the crash.
The Assembly Member for the Kwesi Plange Electoral Area, Ahmed Abdullia, confirmed that none of the students at the nearby school was injured in the incident.
The GCAA, established in 1986 as the regulatory agency for air transport in Ghana, indicated that further details will be provided in due course.
What we know so far
Location: Oninku Drive School Park at Site 17, Tema Community One, near TMA Daycare facility
Aircraft: Microlight aircraft with registration number 9G-ADV
Route: Flying from Ho to Accra, estimating arrival in Accra at 15:20 Z
Last Radio Contact: 14:18 Z (approximately 2:18 pm local time)
Casualties: Two males on board, both deceased
Emergency Response: Firefighters received call at 12:59 pm; GNFS and GHAPOHA personnel responded
Evacuation: Teachers and pupils evacuated safely before emergency teams arrived; no injuries reported at the school
Investigation: Security cordon in place; authorities investigating cause of crash
Bodies: Retrieved and sent to morgue for preservation and autopsy
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh