Passenger plane crashes, at least five killed: Miss Ghana on board

ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) - At least five people are reported to have died when a F-27 plane operated by the Ghana Air Force for internal flights crashed as it landed at the Kotoka International Airport Monday.

The plane, on a domestic flight from Tamale, was landing in poor visibility during a heavy rain after the pilot had unsuccessfully attempted to land in Lome, Togo and Takoradi because of a downpour, reliable sources told the Ghana News Agency.

The sources quoted the pilot as saying visibility was poor but he was in contact with the Control Tower in Accra and was confident he could land successfully.

The minister of defence, Lt.-Col. E.K.T. Donkor, told reporters that it was too early to speculate about the cause of the crash and that his office was making enquiries.

Meanwhile, the authorities have closed down the Kotoka International Airport temporarily following the crash.

GNA quoted the director-general of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Wing Commander Andy Mensah as saying that the closure is to enable the runway to be cleared of debris from the plane which, eyewitnesses said, broke into two.

He said the airport was expected to reopen after about three hours to take flights.

The military cordoned off the site of the crash and very little information has been filtering out.

Unconfirmed reports said there were 54 passengers, including the reigning Miss Ghana, Marian Bugri, who was returning from the northern regions where she carried her message of education against breast cancer.

The injured passengers have been sent to the 37 military hospital, which had been working in darkness at a particular point because of a power failure.

The military provided makeshift lights to assist the doctors and nurses.

Fire service engines and military helicopters rushed to the site of the crash to rescue survivors.

Military, Fire Service, Police Hospital, the GCAA and Tema Oil Refinery ambulances ferried the injured to the 37 military hospital.

President Jerry Rawlings and the deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, Mike Hammah were among the first to be on the site of the crash.

Airlink is operated by the Ghana Air Force for domestic flights.

The general mood at the airport is dull as bemused people were seen in groups talking about the accident.