The plight of Ghana International Airline (GIA) seems to be worsening by the day, as it struggles with the lifting of its passengers who have virtually been stranded for about a week. Over 250 stranded passengers of the airline yesterday thronged the GIA offices at the airport area in Accra, threatening mayhem. The fuming passengers, who hit tables and chairs with their fists, rained insults on the management for failing to arrange flights to lift them to their destinations in the United Kingdom. The situation led to officials of GIA vacating the office and allowing the passengers to take over work for the day. Most of the passengers, who occupied the seats of the GIA staff and were supposed to have left the country for London and Dusseldorf, said the airline kept rescheduling their flights. One of the stranded passengers, Samuel Boateng, who said he had bought a GIA ticket to fly to London, had for the past one week been sleeping at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). Not quite long ago, the management of GIA urged its numerous customers to keep faith with the airline since it had good prospects. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIA, Gifty Annan-Myers said after the last Saturday Gatwick Airport incident that it was a monetary issue that had been cleared. “It was an error and we have duly rectified it. Our customers now can enjoy our flights since our schedule have come back to normal.” Security personnel in the United Kingdom seized a GIA aircraft two Saturdays ago upon arrival at the Gatwick airport for an alleged breach of financial contract between the airline and the leaser of its aircraft. Ms Annan-Myers praised the customers for their commitment over the years and attributed the sustenance of the airline to their esteemed patronage. She said staff and stakeholders appreciated the “wonderful commitment to the airline even in times of adversity”, adding that such demonstration of commitment to the airline urges the staff on. However, yesterday’s development speaks otherwise of the customers, who resisted various appeals from the Police and security personal to calm down. A police team’s attempt to restore peace and calm in the midst of the chaotic situation was in vain as the passengers heightened the tempo of their chanting and drumming of tables in the offices. Superintendent Fosu Ackah, Commander of the Airport District Command, addressing the fuming travelers, gave the assurance that the management of the airline was in a crisis meeting to find a lasting solution to the situation. But the irritated passengers kept shouting, “No way”, “We wont leave here without our money,” “You have collapsed GIA”, among other derogatory remarks to register their disagreement with the Police officers. Gameli Nudanu, Deputy Sales and Marketing Manager, whose desk was swarmed by the passengers, tried hard to convince them to leave and wait for a call from the airline. After persistent persuasion from journalists to grant an interview, he said he was not ready to talk. Though he would not talk to journalists, he explained to the passengers that the situation was under control and all measures were being employed to lift the backlog of passengers from the recent disruptions of flights by the volcanic ash in Europe. By Emelia Ennin Abbey/Daily Guide/Ghana