An Aerospace Medicine Specialist, Dr Yakubu Akparibo, says microlight aircraft are generally not permitted to operate over densely populated areas, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the microlight crash in Tema on Monday afternoon.

His comments follow confirmation by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) that a microlight aircraft registered as 9G-ADV crashed on Monday, March 16, 2026, while flying from Ho to Accra with two people on board.

Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story, Dr Akparibo explained that microlight aircraft are typically subject to less stringent regulations compared to conventional aircraft and are usually restricted to areas with less air traffic and fewer people on the ground.

“So, for the operation of microlights generally, the regulations are less stringent. In some jurisdictions, they are not even regulated. The pilot is not expected to carry medical licences, and they are not expected to have airworthiness certificates,” he said.

He noted that because of these regulatory differences, microlight aircraft are usually operated for recreational purposes and are not intended for commercial aviation.

According to him, their operations are normally limited to areas where the airspace is less congested and where there are minimal communities below.

“They are normally limited to where the airspace is less dense, and also on the ground, they won’t be in places where there are communities or people. So I’m surprised that this microlight flew into Tema airspace, which has a lot of population on the ground,” he said.

The aircraft, which reportedly departed Ho in the Volta Region, was heading toward Accra when the crash occurred. Authorities say the flight distance between the two locations is less than 100 miles, which falls within the typical operational range of a microlight aircraft.

Dr Akparibo stressed that it is still too early to determine the exact cause of the crash but said investigators would need to establish what permissions were granted for the flight.

“In the investigation, we need to find out what kind of permit they had to fly through this airspace and if they had permission to land at the Accra International Airport,” he explained.

He added that microlight aircraft are rarely allowed to land at major international airports due to safety and operational considerations.

“Mostly they are not allowed to fly into big airports like what we have in our international airport,” he said.

According to him, microlights typically carry a maximum of two passengers and can land in many open spaces without requiring a formal airport.

However, he emphasised that operating such aircraft near major cities or busy airports would normally require special clearance from aviation authorities.

Investigations by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority are expected to determine the exact flight permissions granted, the intended landing arrangements, and the circumstances that led to the crash.