After Being Stranded In London For More Than A Week

Fourteen crew members of the Ghana International Airline flew back to Accra on Wednesday night from London after being stranded in London for more than a week following an air space ban across Europe.

The team made up of two sets of crew appeared cheerful when Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo visited them hours before their departure.

They were relieved and joyous when they finally had the massage that their aircraft which had been at the London Gatwick airport over the period, can now fly through the skies which had been dominated by ashes from a volcanic explosion in the Iceland. The crew members were stuck for more than a week were among thousands of passengers and flight crews who rushed to terminals as news spread that the blanket ban, imposed following safety fears over a cloud of volcanic ash, was lifted in the UK on Tuesday. However, most flights remain cancelled as majority of airlines attempt to return to their normal schedule, with many aircraft and crews still returning from foreign airports. Their 707 Boeing aircraft was just ferried to Accra with no passenger on board because of scheduling problems. The crew members had gone through some hardship over the period they were stranded, facing financial and emotional worries. For instance their per-diem was only for their normal night or two stay in London and most of them completely run out of resource.

When the news of their hardship got to the Ghana High Commission in London, the Head of the Mission, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo rushed to the Gatwick Hilton hotel where the crew members were lodging to find out how the situation was and what sort of assistance they would need.

The crew members told the Envoy that they had lived on the generosity of friends and people they described as ‘philanthropists.’

According to the Team Leader, Mr. Truth Dayie, though they had communications with their management in Accra, there were some forms of difficulties for management to remit them.

He expressed the team’s gratitude to the High Commissioner and described his visit as encouraging. “Your visit is extremely inspiring and encouraging; your support for us has deeply been felt.” He stressed.

He said there was a huge backlog that needs to be cleared before the airline could resume to its normal schedule of four times a week to London.

For some of the crew members said they feared the situation because they did not exactly know how long they were going to be stranded. “The situation was severely stressful because we were left in suspense, I am now happy finally we can fly.” Mrs. Victoria Adotey said.

Mr. Gwillym Lamptey noted that it was part of the type of experiences we need to gain in relation to the career. He was thankful to the High Commissioner on all who in diverse ways supported them.

Professor Danso-Boafo asked them to make the Mission their first point of call whenever they are in such as situation. “The Mission is your home you need not to go through all that you have gone through all by yourself, we are here to first ensure the welfare of all Ghanaians including you.” He noted.

He said a tour of the Mission will be arranged for members of the crew very soon for them to acquaint themselves with the activities of mission.

The High Commissioner asked the crew members to regularly visit the mission all the time and not only in times of emergencies.