Coronavirus: British nationals stuck in Accra after UK evacuation flight made to return

Hundreds of British nationals are trapped in Accra after the UK was forced to cancel a planned evacuation flight.

A commercially chartered British Airways flight 78 was due to depart from the Ghanaian city on Monday to send some 360 British nationals home.

The flight was asked to turn back to Ghana after three hours into its journey.

Joynews reports that the planned evacuation was under a special arrangement facilitated by the British High Commission following the closure of Ghana’s air, sea and land borders to stop the importation of COVID-19 into the country.

The pre-authorisation for the BA flight 78 was contained in a letter dated, March 23, and signed by the Director-General of GCAA, Simon Allotey, citing approval by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 of a request by the British High Commission.

However, the flight got cancelled because approval for the flight to depart had been rescinded, Joynews reports.



There is currently no explanation from the GCAA for the rescission decision, however, the aviation authority has confirmed that the initial approval has been rescinded.

The UK nationals embarking on the journey were compelled to return to their various destinations unsure when they would go back home.

Flight tracker, Flightradar24 which tracks air traffic in real time from all around the world confirmed in an update on Twitter that the aircraft was indeed airborne and Accra-bound.

#BA81, London-Accra, has turned back toward London and is squawking 7700. Reason unknown at this time. https://t.co/owaAoqXB9h

For more information on ‘Squawking 7700’ please see https://t.co/nW7vZ4JgMF pic.twitter.com/8T9POppyAo

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 23, 2020

 
The news portal reported that the rescission of the initial approval granted by the COVID-19 committee was communicated to the UK High Commission via a phone call.

Several US citizens have however made it out of Ghana under a similar arrangement onboard a Delta Airlines flight facilitated by the US embassy.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com