GCAA denies grounding Starbow Airline

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has denied reports that it has grounded Starbow Airline.

The denial comes a day after the Transport Ministry declared that the airline will not fly again until further notice.

According to the Ministry, the decision was taken to ensure safety in domestic air travel.

Deputy Transport Minister, Joyce Bawa Mogtari indicated on Tuesday that the aircraft needed some additional maintenance checks and it was therefore necessary for the regulator to ground the airline until the various checks are complete before they resume normal business.

However, in a press conference held by the GCAA, Beatirce Adu reports that the authority explained that the airliner could not be grounded because its one year air worthiness and air operational license had not expired.

It indicated that the sole airline of the company had only been suspended in order to make way for thoughrough checks to be conducted on it before regular flights resume.

Acting Director General in charge of technical at the GCAA, Martey Boye Toklo said the airliner could take an aircraft from another company if it has to fly but not fly its own aircrafts.

He said the authority will do all it can to ensure that the country's airspace is safe.

Two passengers aboard a Starbow aircraft destined for Takoradi were injured when the plane force-landed 20 minutes into the journey.

The plane made a quick emergency return from its journey to Takoradi after it experienced hydraulic warning signals 6000 feet into the skies.

This is the second incident of such magnitute involving the airline in the space of a few months.