There were neither pleasantries nor fanfare as President Rawlings returned home yesterday from Botswana to a tragic welcome. The Ghana Air Force jet, which escorted his plane crashed into the nearby bush off the main runaway at the Kotoka International Airport and the scattered debris could be seen some 21 metres away. Soon after the President jet touched down at about 2:pm , the Air Force jet, Maki 326k of the Number Four Squadron, which had also safely landed, took off again and suddenly nose-dived, hit the ground to a booming explosion and thereafter a huge fireball and smoke engulfed the whole area. The Presidential jet, which was then taxing on the main runway, had to make a sudden stop as a precautionary measure. Two fire tenders from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority immediately went to the source but it was too late as the scattered parts of the jet continued to burn in huge flames. Not even a third tender could help as save the situation. President Rawlings ,who had then disembarked from his plane together with other security personnel, dashed to the scene when the smoke died out only to see scattered parts of the jet and dismembered body of the sole pilot, squadron Leader Samuel Dwamena. The Vice-President , Professor J.E.A Mills ; Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Defence Minister; Major General B.K. Akafia, Chief of Defence , Staff and Mr. Peter Nanfuri Inspector-General of Police , who had all come to welcome the President , also rushed to the scene. President Rawlings later drove to the Air Force Station where he joined a helicopter o have an aerial view of the accident scene before shaking hands with Vice President and other officials who had come to welcome him. Flt. Lt. Rawlings then changed into a flying jacket and then jumped into another jet fighter , while Wing Commander of the Air Force Fordjour, commander Kwame Mamphey, Director of Air Operations of the Ghana Air Force who piloted the Presidential jet was an eye-witness to the whole incident said the cause of accident was not known and that investigations will be conducted by military authorities.
