New details have emerged about the aircraft involved in the recent crash in Tema, revealing that it had only recently returned to operation after being grounded for over two decades.
The aircraft, a 3I Sky Arrow 650 registered as 9G-ADV, was originally manufactured in Italy by Iniziative Industriali Italiane between 1992 and 2008. Reports indicate that the plane had remained out of service for approximately 22 years before undergoing restoration and recertification in 2023.
In a Facebook post dated February 2023, Roberto Billia, Managing Director of Gianair, shared that the aircraft had successfully returned to the skies after extensive work. He wrote, “After 22 years, 9G-ADV is again airborne. What an emotion,” accompanied by photos and a video of the aircraft.
Earlier updates from January 2023 showed the plane undergoing rehabilitation and inspection by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Following these checks, the aircraft was granted approval for a test flight, which it reportedly completed successfully before receiving certification.
Despite passing inspections and returning to service, the aircraft has now been involved in a crash, raising fresh questions about its long period of inactivity and subsequent restoration.
It remains unclear whether the aircraft was operating under Gianair or another entity at the time of the incident.
