American solo pilot missing in 'Ghana'

Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - A single engine US registered flight aircraft with a lone crew member has gone missing after refuelling at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on the evening of Friday August 17, this year.

Authorities say it is an American woman flying solo over Africa for a Florida company.

Search and rescue operations have been activated by Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in coordination with neighbouring flight information regions to locate the aircraft.

A statement from GCAA to Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the aircraft, a Beechcrafk (BE36) with registration number N306DB operated by Wings Eagle that originated from Grand Canary Island off the coast of Senegal and en-route to Windhoek, Namibia, failed to respond when contacted by Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC) at KIA.

It said another aircraft, that was ahead of the Beechcrafk and heading for the same destination was requested by ATCC to contact the plane but it could not.

The ATCC at KIA had tried to make contact with the aircraft, which took off at 7:44 pm, about one hour 15 minutes after it had taken off. The statement said investigations were continuing.