Ghana Presidential Jet catches fire
Ghana's Presidential aircraft, Falcon 900, caught fire during a take-off at the Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday, March 3.
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The fire was said to have been caused by a friction between the two main left wheels of the aircraft and the runway surface.
It was however brought under control by fire service personnel from the Air Force Base and that of the main airport.
A statement signed by Lieutenant Commander Andy La-Anyane, Deputy Director of Information and Press Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces said the aircraft was tasked to perform a special mission in Malabu but had to return to the Air Force Base in Accra when the crew experienced a slight operational problem with the computer system.
It said the computers were reset and during the second run for take-off, the aircraft lost two main left wheels.
“Inspite of the serious veering of the aircraft to the left, they managed to slow and successfully turned off the runway without veering into the shoulders of the runway. The aircraft stopped successfully”, it said.
It said emergency procedures were followed with the disembarkation of the passengers and the fighting of the fire by fire service personnel from the Air Force Base and the main airport.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused as a result of friction between the wheels and the runway surface.
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It said a Special Occurrence Report has been sent to the Air Force Headquarters and a special investigation team is being composed.