Antrak Aircraft Engine Catches Fire Mid-Air...GCAA Investigates

Ghana's aviation industry was spared a tragic news when domestic carrier, Antrak Air, averted a near-crash after one of its flights caught fire mid air on Friday morning. The airplane was enroute from Tamale in the Northern Region to the capital, Accra, when the incident occurred with frightened passengers praying ceaselessly and screaming for dear live. But the pilot successfully navigated the faulty aircraft back to Tamale after one of the engines of the aircraft with registration number EC-KUL, caught fire some few minutes after take-off. Antrak subsequently issued a statement on the incident. Chief Commercial Officer of Antrak Air, Mr. Antwi Boasiako, who signed the statement explained "there was a fire incident on one engine of Antrak aircraft with registration number EC-KUL, enroute from Tamale to Accra". "The Captain detected the fire 20 minutes into the flight and returned safely to land at the Tamale airport. There was no injury or casualty. The aircraft, manufactured in 2008, is operated for Antrak by Swiftair of Spain. At this point, our priority is to make alternative travel arrangements for passengers who will be affected by the grounding of this aircraft. We have started contacting all affected passengers. For additional travel information or enquiries, passengers may contact us on 0302745514. Thank you." Meanwhile, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has begun investigations into the incident and the domestic carrier, in an assurance note, promised to "update" the public "once investigations into the incident are completed by the GCAA".