Ghana Airway?s close calls

GHANA AIRWAYS is describing as ?minor?, two harrowing incidents over the weekend which could have been fatal for passengers from the London-Accra route last Friday night.

45 minutes into the flight and 30,000 above sea level, the voice of the airlines DC 10 pilot announced to passengers in the 238 capacity plane that there was an engine problem and followed with a radio call to Heathrow?s control tower that the plane was having to make an emergency return to the airport.

?The engine had sucked in five birds at that altitude, a rare occurence, and had disrupted the smooth running of the engines.

?A huge pall of silence fell on the plane. We all went quiet and those who could pray, launched into prayers? said a still traumatised lady who was on the flight.

When the plane finally managed to touch down at Heathrow, the pilot asked the passengers to give thanks to God.They were sent to Excelsior Hotel 15 minutes drive from the airport.

Another Ghana Airways plane that was set to pick them up the following morning, also suffered a similar fate and failed to take off at 1.30 am after taxing on the runway. A loud sound was heard. Unable to gain altitude, the plane limped back to the airport.

Instead of Saturday, the passengers eventually arrived on Monday. Some of the passengers were scrambled to Gatwick to catch a British Airways flight back to Ghana.

The passengers praised the first pilot Mr. Gbartey for his calming words and professionalism and the London Manager Ms. Hannah Assan who they said was so understanding and polite and offered them phone cards, toothbrushes and reassuring words. They however rained curses on a notorious permanent fixture there, Mr. Ferguson Kumi who they alleged was very rude. Ms. Assan however was nearly mandhandled by some irate students who were desperate to get back home.

To placate passengers, GhanaAir promised passengers 25 percent discount on the cost of their next flight.