Officials told state media that the wreckage had been found, but an aviation spokesman said he could not confirm this.

The Aseman Airlines passenger plane came down in the Zagros mountains on Sunday, and all 66 people on board are feared to have been killed.

Hundreds of mountaineers with dogs and drones are trying to reach the site.

The searchers face bad weather conditions. Due to fog and strong winds, helicopters that were deployed for the search at dawn on Monday have had to be grounded, a Red Crescent official told local media.

And on Sunday, teams had to stop work altogether due to winds and snow.

The ATR 72-500 twin-engine turboprop was travelling from Tehran to the south-western city of Yasuj.

Flight EP3704 left Tehran at 04:30 GMT on Sunday, and crashed about an hour later in the Mount Dena area, about 22km (14 miles) from its destination.

On Monday officials from the region told news channels rescuers had reached the site.

But both channels – IRINN and English-language Press TV – said they could not confirm the reports independently, and a civil aviation spokesman told Reuters news agency the reports could not be confirmed.

‘Grief and sorrow’

The crashed plane was 25 years old, Iran’s civil aviation organisation said.

Sixty passengers, two security guards, two flight attendants and the pilot and co-pilot were on board.

Following the crash, the airline initially said that all on board had died, but later on Sunday said that it could not confirm this as no-one had reached the site.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani expressed sympathy for all involved, saying in a statement that the incident brought “great grief and sorrow”.

–

Source: BBC

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The Saratov Airlines An-148 regional jet was en route to the city of Orsk when it went missing.

An emergency services source has told Interfax news agency the plane crashed and there was “no chance” of survivors.

It reportedly fell near Argunovo, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Moscow.

According to another news agency, the jet vanished from radar screens two minutes after it left Domodedovo Airport.

–

Source: BBC

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The crash, which resulted in five minor injuries, occurred after the aircraft skidded off the runway during its take-off run.

Some other incidents involving Starbow airlines have been recorded in previous years.

In 2015, passengers on board a Tamale-bound Starbow airline, had the scare of their lives when the aircraft, BAE with registration 9GSBB, crash landed in Tamale although no injuries were recorded.

In 2014, two people were injured after a Takoradi bound Starbow aircraft made an emergency landing.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and other stakeholders in the aviation sector, have often been criticized for not cracking the whip enough on these airline operators, hence putting the lives of passengers at risk.

BPS in a statement sided with this position, saying the Transport Ministry and GCAA’s have since 2012,  refused to heed the Bureau’s “good advice to set up an independent investigation” into these incidents.

“Starbow Runway Overrun is bringing our country yet closer to witnessing a national disaster. The ICAO Safety Reports for 2015 and 2016 points in that direction for the Regional Aviation Safety Group – Africa and the Indian Ocean (RASG- AFI) comprising 48 countries including Ghana.”

The BPS believes allowing “GCAA to lead and continually investigate such incidents”, without setting up an independent investigation body can only “save jobs at the authority not lives of passengers.”

“Perhaps, it’s time for the BPS to explore what roles the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) and the Federal Aviation Administration ((FAA) can play in getting the State of Ghana to establish such a body as opposed to adhoc investigation committees whose findings and recommendations cannot be assured.”

Starbow halts operations after crash at Kotoka

Starbow Airlines has halted operations following the crash. A statement from Starbow said it had “suspended its operations with immediate effect.”

It added that “guests with future reservations are invited to contact the airline at 024 500 0000 to make alternative travel arrangements.”

Possible negligence

There has been a suggestion of negligence on the part of the aircraft’s pilot by William Owuraku Aidoo, a Deputy Minister of Energy who was on board the Starbow plane when it crashed.

He narrated that, the pilot tried to brave a storm that was obviously going to overwhelm the plane.

“As we were boarding the bus to the aircraft, I got a little concerned. I noticed the rains had started from afar approaching where we were parked” Mr. Owuraku Aidoo told Ghana Web.

“I am speculating that probably, the pilot tried to beat the oncoming clouds that were rolling in, and we taxied to the runway and the rain really caught up with us. So he stopped, prior to taking off proper, and I got more concerned because I could see that the rain was running down the windows very very fast when the plane was stationary, which signified to me that the wind was on the high side,” the Minister said.

Below is the statement from BPS

Starbow Runway Overrun is bringing our country yet closer to witnessing a national disaster. The ICAO Safety Reports for 2015 and 2016 points in that direction for the Regional Aviation Safety Group – Africa and the Indian Ocean (RASG- AFI) comprising 48 countries including Ghana.

The Ministry of Transport and the GCAA are not heeding good advise to set up an independent Accident investigation body as proposed by the Bureau of Public Safety.

Allowing the GCAA to lead and continually investigate such incidents can only save jobs at the authority not lives of passengers.

Perhaps it’s time for the BPS to explore what roles the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ) and the Federal Aviation Administration ((FAA) can play in getting the State of Ghana to establish such a body as opposed to adhoc investigation committees whose findings and recommendations cannot be assured.

We first called for this body to be set up in 2012 after a plane overshot the runway killing 10 persons.

Engage on
+1 540 779 4334 by phone
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Skype ID: DeZion

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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It was a cargo plane carrying freight for the French army, security sources told local news site Koaci.

Reports suggest it was a Ukrainian or Russian turboprop Antonov plane.

It crashed in heavy rain and the wreckage was swept back towards the shore near Port-Bouët.

At least four people were killed, a witness told Reuters news agency.

Rescue workers have removed two bodies from the plane while a further two could be seen in the wreckage, the agency says.

–

Source: BBC

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Only six of the 77 people on the plane, carrying members of the Chapecoense team, survived Monday’s crash.

The team were flying to what was billed as the biggest match in their history – the final of the Copa Sudamericana.

Their opponents, Colombian team Atletico Nacional, have offered to concede the game to ensure Chapecoense are declared the champions.

In a tweet, the club also asked that fans to turn up to their stadium at the time which the game was scheduled, dressed in white.

In a joint statement, Brazilian first division football teams have offered to lend players to Chapecoense free of charge, and asked the league to protect the club from relegation for the next three years.

Several leading footballers, from Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar, to Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, have also paid tribute to the players, who had become an unlikely success story in recent years.

There were also 21 journalists on board. Both flight recorders have been recovered.

What happened?

The plane lost contact with ground controllers as it approached Medellin at about 22:15 on Monday (03:15 GMT on Tuesday), after the pilot reported an electrical fault. It came down in a mountainous area.

The number of those on board was first said to be 81, but Colombia’s disaster management agency later said four people on the passenger list did not board the plane.

Three of the six survivors are footballers:

• Defender Alan Ruschel, who suffered spinal injuries
• Defender Helio Zemper, who has injuries to his skull and chest
• Reserve goalkeeper Jakson Follman, who has unspecified injuries

Goalkeeper Marcos Padilha, also known as Danilo, was pulled alive from the wreckage but he later died in hospital.

Of the 21 journalists on board, six worked for Fox Sports Brasil, and a number of others for the Globo media organisation.

Three British investigators are travelling to Colombia to help look into the cause of the crash.

Who are Chapecoense? – Luis Barrucho, BBC Brasil

Shortly before boarding in Sao Paulo, Chapecoense manager Cadu Gaucho, 36, appeared in a video posted on the team’s Facebook site [in Portuguese] describing the trip to Medellin as “the club’s most important to date”.

Playing in the final of the Copa Sudamericana was to be the highlight of a glorious season for the team from a small city of less than 200,000 inhabitants in the state of Santa Catarina.

Founded in 1973, the team has been playing in Brazil’s Serie A since only 2014 but is currently ninth ahead of much more famous and established teams such as Sao Paulo, Fluminense and Cruzeiro.

Last week, it became the first Brazilian team in three years to make it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s second most important club competition, after beating Argentine side San Lorenzo.

One of the founders of the club, Alvadir Pelisser, told BBC Brasil the tragedy had put an “end to everyone’s dream”. “We were a family, I’m shocked,” he added.

What has the reaction been?

Brazilian President Michel Temer announced three days of national mourning, and top Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona held a minute’s silence at the beginning of their practice sessions.

Chapecoense’s goalkeeping coach Marcelo De Quadros Kunst stayed in Brazil with players who did not travel to Colombia.

He told the BBC: “We see wives fainting, ambulances taking them to the hospital, family members holding on to football boots left behind.”

Argentine forward Alejandro Martinuccio was one of those who had to stay behind. “I was saved because I got injured,” he told Argentina’s La Red radio.

“I feel profound sadness. The only thing I can ask is prayers for the companions who were on the flight.”

The scene in Chapeco – Camilla Costa, BBC Brasil

It’s not unusual to see Brazilians wearing their team’s shirt. But today in Chapeco, the gesture has a different meaning.

Since the early hours of Tuesday morning, men and women, young and old, have been coming to Chapecoense’s stadium, Arena Conda.

Schools let their students go, shops remained closed.

Wearing green and white, the colours of the team, they stare at the empty field, still unable to believe the tragedy that took place.

“They were such humble boys. We all knew them,” said supporter Djair Hipolito. “They took the time to talk to us, take photos, visit people in the hospital. I know that other teams are not like this.”

“We should be celebrating now”, he says. Their team was finally at the top, one match away from their first international title.

Now, the fans just sit in silence and wait for their boys to come home. “Do you know anything about the bodies?” a woman asks me. “Do you think the service will be here in the stadium?”

–

Source: BBC

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The small aircraft, a twin-prop Metroliner, crashed around 07:30 (05:30 GMT), shortly after taking off from Luqa airport on a flight to Libya.

The victims’ nationalities have not been released.

Early reports that they were officials from the EU’s border agency have been denied. Frontex said the plane was “not deployed by” them and said “none of their staff were involved”.

Malta International Airport officials released a statement confirming the deaths. The airport is closed “until further notice”.

Eyewitnesses told the Times of Malta that it took off before turning on its side and going “straight down into the ground”.

Video shot from another plane at the airport shows flames and thick black smoke billowing from the site of the crash, next to the runway.

–

Source: BBC

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The mine has served notice it will close its main mine and lay off about 5,000 of its workers due to falling gold prices and cost of production in Ghana.

The sector Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has justified the need for Anglogold Ashanti to shut its Obuasi Mines after over 100 years of operation.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Alhaji Fuseini stated that his personal assessment shows that the company cannot continue to operate under the current circumstances.

He explained that the cost of operation far outweighs the profit revenue that is derived from Obuasi, adding that, he has personally visited the site to assess the situation.

The closure of the mine is expected to last between 18 to 24 months and time is to be used to invest and ensure the southern part of the mine which holds the potential is fully exploited.

This is to enable the mine to re-open and operate for the next 25 years.

But Alhaji Fuseini is requesting for some concrete assurances from the management of the company because according to him, government has legitimate concerns about the closure.

“How will they protect the integrity of the mine because the mine is an underground mine…a mine closure will need security to safeguard the integrity of the mine so they should come out and tell us how they want to protect the integrity of the mine.

We need firm commitment that if they close down the mine, they will re-open it after the date that they have said. We need firm commitment from them to show that they have enough resources to invest in the mines,” he said.

The sector Minister however, clarified that the mine has not been closed down yet and negotiations are ongoing “and what you have heard is just an intent; they are not yet implementing the decision.”

He disclosed that governments concerns in relation to the matter have been penciled down for the next engagement with the management of Anglogold Ashanti.

Alhaji Fuseini pledged that his Ministry will closely collaborate with Anglogold Ashanti “to build a consensus on what ought to be done that will inure to the collective benefit of the people of this country and guarantee them a return of their investments.”

He also expressed regret at the failure of Ghanaians to take advantage of the mining boom which took place in the 1980s.

Alhaji Fuseini noted that Ghanaians have the expertise in mining working in other mining industries across the world but was quick to add that government should not be blamed for the absence of many wholly owned Ghanaian mining companies.

“Going forward, we should be able to see Ghanaian companies acquiring each other and turning themselves into big companies to determine the way the mining industry goes in Ghana,” he said.

By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan

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