KLM: GCAA investigates bird strike as flight takes-off for Amsterdam
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has commenced investigations into the bird strike incident involving KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight 590 on Friday, September 3, 2021.
Per reports, the incident which occurred at 2235 hours GMT (10:35 PM), resulted in a rejected take-off of the Flight 590 and subsequent grounding of the airplane at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
According to the GCAA, the grounding of the airplane following the rejected take-off was necessary as the strong braking action of the aircraft could cause the overheating of its brakes, which may further cause fire and deflation of tyres.
“Under the surveillance of GCAA Aviation Safety Inspectors, the affected tyres were replaced, with all systems of the aircraft checked, before it departed Accra for Amsterdam at 0100 hours GMT today,” noted the GCAA in a release announcing the departure of the KLM flight as well as its investigation into the incident.
“As the Regulator of air transport in Ghana, GCAA remains fully committed to enforcing compliance with its Aerodrome Safety and Standards (ASAS) as well as the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pertaining to wildlife management,” GCAA added.
Read details of press release:
Accra, 5th September, 2021 – The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) wishes to confirm that on Friday, September 3, 2021, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight 590 was forced to reject its take-off run from Kotoka International Airport following a bird strike close to the Boeing 777-300ER’s windshield. The flight was headed for Amsterdam when the incident occurred at 2235 hours GMT.
It is expected that in the event of a rejected take-off, the strong braking action of an aircraft could cause the overheating of its brakes, which may further cause fire and deflation of tyres. Therefore, in compliance with Ghana Civil Aviation (Aerodrome) Directives, personnel of the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) of the Ghana Airports Company (GACL) were immediately deployed to the scene.
The aircraft was towed to the ramp, where all 402 passengers and crew members on board disembarked. No passenger or crew member was injured during the incident.
Under the surveillance of GCAA Aviation Safety Inspectors, the affected tyres were replaced, with all systems of the aircraft checked, before it departed Accra for Amsterdam at 0100 hours GMT today.
A joint investigation into the incident, consistent with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, is being carried out.
As the Regulator of air transport in Ghana, GCAA remains fully committed to enforcing compliance with its Aerodrome Safety and Standards (ASAS) as well as the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pertaining to wildlife management.
