A Passion Air flight en route to Takoradi made an unexpected return to Accra on May 31

A domestic flight operated by Passion Air made an unexpected return to Accra shortly after takeoff on Saturday, May 31, 2025, triggering concern among passengers and a flurry of speculation on social media.

The aircraft, which departed Kotoka International Airport at approximately 6:20 a.m. en route to Takoradi, reportedly turned back just 15 minutes into the journey. According to passengers, no immediate explanation was given for the mid-air turnaround. It wasn’t until after landing that some claimed they were told the aircraft did not have sufficient fuel to complete the trip.

One visibly shaken passenger recounted her experience on social media, saying, “Just had the most terrifying experience with a domestic flight in Ghana. We boarded at 6:20 a.m., took off, and barely 15 minutes in, they announced we had to turn back to Accra, no clear reason.”

The viral post and similar online accounts sparked concerns over safety protocols and pre-flight operational checks within the domestic airline sector.

However, Passion Air has firmly denied the allegations of a fuel shortage.
In a statement issued later that same day, the airline clarified that the flight, designated OP 122, returned to Accra just six minutes into the journey due to a technical indication received in the cockpit—an issue the airline insists had nothing to do with fuel levels.

“Approximately six (6) minutes after takeoff, the Captain elected to return to base due to an indication received in the flight deck not related to fuel,” the statement read. “The aircraft landed safely in Accra, and our ground engineers immediately began diagnostics to address the issue.”

According to Passion Air, all passengers disembarked safely, and after engineers resolved the problem, the aircraft was refuelled per standard procedure and continued service as Flight OP 122A without incident.

The airline expressed regret over what it described as “unverified and inaccurate information” circulating online and reassured the public that passenger safety remains its top priority.

“We operate in strict compliance with standards set by our aviation regulator,” the statement added.

Passion Air also issued an apology to all passengers affected by the disruption and thanked the public for their patience and understanding.

JKB/EB