A Brussels Airlines flight bound for Lomé was forced to return to Accra shortly after take-off on Monday evening following a technical fault, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has confirmed.

In a statement issued on July 20, the GCAA said Flight SN278 departed the Accra International Airport at 6:06 p.m. but developed a technical problem while airborne.

“As a precautionary safety measure, the flight crew elected to return to Accra, where the aircraft landed safely at 18:18,” the Authority said.

The GCAA commended the flight crew for following established safety procedures, stressing that the safety of passengers and crew remains the highest priority.

It added that the technical problem that forced the aircraft to turn back is being investigated by Brussels Airlines in line with established aviation safety procedures under the oversight of the GCAA.

Following the incident, Brussels Airlines cancelled Flight SN278.

The aviation regulator said affected passengers are receiving the necessary assistance from the airline in accordance with the Ghana Civil Aviation (Economic) Directives, 2019 Part 2 – Consumer Protection.

The GCAA also sought to reassure the travelling public that Ghana’s aviation safety and security oversight system remains robust despite the incident.

The aircraft returned safely to Accra just 12 minutes after departure, with no injuries reported.