A retired senior officer of the Ghana Air Force, KK Pumpuni, has recounted surviving three separate plane crashes during his aviation career, describing how quick decisions and experience helped him escape without injuries.

Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey, the air commodore narrated that the first incident occurred in Takoradi during a training exercise with his instructor.

4 Incidents, 35 Fatalities: Four deadly aircraft crashes recorded in Ghana's history

“I have come out of 3 plane crashes. The first one was in Takoradi. My instructor and I took off and when we got to about 500 ft, he pulled the throttle which is the accelerator back so there was no power.

“I looked at the height and said to myself I would go back and land on the runway. I started turning and came all the way ending in a heavy landing which damaged the left undercarriage. It wasn’t serious and I knew I could do it. We didn’t get injured,” he said.

He added that the aircraft veered off the runway after the landing, prompting a swift response from emergency personnel.

“We hit and went off the runway to the side. Fire service quickly dashed there to check on us,” he added.

Recounting the second incident, Air Commodore Pumpuni said it occurred in Ho where the aircraft overshot a small laterite airstrip during landing.

“The second crash was in Ho. We had a small laterite airstrip. We landed there and we overshot the runway and went off before stopping. We called the soldiers who came and pushed the aircraft back. I started it again to monitor. Of course, we reported to headquarters and told them what had happened,” he explained.

According to him, the short runway required a high level of experience to operate on safely, which, unfortunately, he wasn't.

“The runway was very short and needed an experienced hand to use it and at that time I don’t think I was much experienced,” he added.

Pumpuni further narrated a third incident involving a mid-air collision during a formation flight.

“The other incident, three planes were flying in a formation and I was in the second plane and in a turn, the other plane came all the way and hit my wing. We were fortunate,” he stated.

LIVESTREAMED: Government releases report on fatal August 6 helicopter crash

The retired air commodore also noted that he and his colleagues survived the incidents without serious injuries, attributing their safety to training and swift responses during emergencies.

I have come out of 3 plane crashes - Air Commodore K.K. Pumpuni

Full interview here https://t.co/xERqOFJATF
#KafuiDeyInterviews pic.twitter.com/cvRiJc0gXy

— Kafui Dey (@KafuiDey) March 9, 2026