New Patriotic Party (NPP) Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen, who was on board a Starbow aircraft that was involved in an accident at the Kotoka International Airport, Saturday afternoon has narrated his harrowing experience.
According to him, it was raining that night and passengers on board wondered why the pilot, Captain Minyila, wanted to take off by all means.
“I thought I was dead already, I heard others mentioning God and Allah and praying for forgiveness. When he did, I heard one of the propellers snap and the noise which followed was as though there was an explosion. The wire mesh and the mud on the side of the runway where the aircraft had veered reduced the speed but for which the story would have been different.
“I had given up hope. I thought it was all over. Passengers asked to be let out. There was a hole created through which rainwater rushed in; a woman nearby was injured. When the door was opened, there was a rush and some persons were injured as they hit their heads against the aircraft” he said on Accra-based Neat FM.
The Starbow Airline aircraft, ATR72-500 with registration number 9G-SBF on a flight from Accra to Kumasi on Saturday overshot the runway at the Kotoka International Airport as it attempted takeoff.
The plane with 63 passengers and five crew members ended up in the fencing around the airport, leaving dozens of passengers traumatized.
A joint statement issued by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said one person had sustained a minor injury and was under investigation.
Meanwhile, Nana Obiri Boahen lauded the pilot on board for his experience to save many lives.
