BA flight makes successful landing after initial alarm

The Boeing 767 British Airways flight on Monday finally touched down, stopped at the end of the run-way without any hitch and taxied onto the tarmac, despite an emergency situation.

Earlier, officials of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) hurriedly mobilised services when news came through that the plane was about to make an emergency landing. Ambulances were provided and a stand-by team of five fire tenders from the Ghana National Fire Service as well as doctors of the aviation clinic were ready to avert any mishap.

Mr. Edward Akohene, Director of Safety Regulations at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, told newsmen that he received information about the emergency situation from the British Airways representative at the airport. He said personnel at the KIA were put on the alert while the 37 Military Hospital and the aviation clinic were requested to make doctors available.

The British Airways Country Manager, Mrs. Anno Sackey, who declined to indicated the number of passengers on board said her office was informed by the pilot that one of the tyres of the plane had a low pressure, this she relayed to the flight safety office for the necessary precaution.

The passengers included the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mustapha Idris, Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children Affairs and Journalists who accompanied the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama to the UN Children Summit in Washington, US.