Passengers who boarded a Starbow flight from Kumasi en-route to Accra on Sunday afternoon were only lucky to be returned to the Kumasi Airport after an hour and half of veering off flight path.
The airplane was unable to land in Accra as scheduled because of bad weather resulting from Saturday’s heavy rains in the national capital Accra.
A clergyman whose voice is heard praying in recordings taken from the plane during the traumatic period Head pastor of Promise Land Rev Evans Kyereh Mensah narrated the incident on Ultimate FM’s Brunch and Lunch with Naa Klodey Odonkor.
“Around 3:30pm we were asked on board. But in the middle of the journey we heard an announcement from the pilot that we were to brace ourselves and put our seat belts on because there were storms coming. Everybody was quiet when announcement came again that the flight was diverting to the north east so people started agitating whether we were going to Tamale or what.“
“Then all of a sudden the plane had a sharp descent then people became apprehensive. I shouted Jesus while others begun crying and screaming my family! My children!.”
“I started praying and shouting and taking control over the atmosphere but still the thing kept defending and people were screaming. At that time all of us knew we were coming to the ground but I still held on to the prayer. Others who were also Christians started praying. A woman held on to my waist and another person held on to my legs and we were all praying.“
“For about one and half hours we were held up in the storms. Later the pilot came to tell us he lost control and someone explained to us that they took us through Lome, Aphlao area looking for navigation and a place to land.”
“It was a matter of life and death. I could see some of them had held unto the seat, some had bowed down their heads, others had brought their children under them, and some were covering their children. I saw some white guys who had also bowed down their heads. I saw another lady two seats away also praying in tongues and asking Lord help us Lord help us I join my faith with the pastor’s faith Lord help us.”
“I saw another lawyer by me also praying, others were quiet, somebody had just fallen asleep and all that but I was just praying.”
“The cabin crew looked frustrated while they sat still some with heads bowed and muttering words. Someway somehow the pilot came out of his cockpit and said that he had found a place to land and so we had to return to Kumasi. But still I was in prayer and I said I wouldn’t give a foot hold to the enemy till we have landed.”
“But by then others were talking, others were chatting others were like wow! Thank you Jesus but I was still in prayer.”