Ghanaian authorities investigate fire incident on domestic aircraft

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) says it is investigating the cause of the fire that started in the port side engine of Antrak Air’s ATR72 aircraft, which was en route to Accra from Tamale.

The Authority said it had dispatched two aviation safety inspectors to Tamale to ascertain the cause of the fire and also the airworthiness of the aircraft.

Antrak Air’s Flight O4312, with registration number EC-KUL from Tamale en-route to Accra today Friday morning, developed a technical problem about 20 minutes into the flight.

The pilot was, however, able to return the aircraft safely to the Tamale Airport with all 69 passengers and four crew members onboard.

The GCAA said it had established that there was a fire in the port side engine (left engine) of the ATR72 aircraft operated by Antrak Air but said the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.

Antrak Air said in a statement that the aircraft, which was manufactured in 2008, was operated for the airline by Swiftair of Spain.

The statement said Antrak Air’s priority at the moment was to make alternative travel arrangements for passengers who were affected by the grounding of the aircraft.

It assured the public that it would update them once investigations into the incident had been completed by the GCAA.

Source: GNA