Authorities have begun preliminary investigations into Monday’s microlight aircraft crash in Tema, with officials saying debris from the crash site will be collected on Tuesday as part of efforts to determine the cause of the incident.
Speaking at the crash location, John Wumborti, Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB), said investigators had just concluded an initial assessment of the scene and would return the next morning to begin the formal evidence recovery process.
According to him, the investigative team is currently gathering preliminary information to guide the next phase of the probe into the accident.
“We have just adjourned with my team and we are here to take preliminary information so that we know what to do next,” he said. “The police and the military are currently in charge of the cordoned crash site.”
Mr. Wumborti explained that investigators will return to the site on Tuesday morning to begin removing debris from the wreckage. The material will then be secured and analyzed as part of the official investigation into the cause of the crash.
“Tomorrow morning we will be here to pick up the debris. It will be secured so that we can conduct our investigation properly,” he said.
The commissioner noted that while the crash was unfortunate, the focus of investigators would be to determine what led to the incident and ensure lessons are learned to prevent similar accidents in the future.
“We really pray that it did not happen, but it has happened,” he said. “What we as investigators must do is to find out why it happened so that we can prevent it.”
The aircraft involved in the crash had earlier been confirmed by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority as a two-seat Sky Arrow microlight aircraft that was traveling from Ho to Accra before going down in Tema.
Authorities say two persons were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident.
The investigation will likely include examination of aircraft debris, flight communications, weather conditions, and operational records as officials seek to determine the sequence of events that led to the crash.
More details are expected as investigators begin the formal recovery and analysis of evidence from the crash site.
