Tema microlight crash: Schoolchildren mistook pilot's emergency signal for a wave - Report

Tema microlight crash occurred on March 16, 2026, within the premises of the TMA Day Care Centre near the Oninku Drive Basic School in Tema Community One. The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) revealed that children playing on a field at the Tema Day Care School near the Oninku School Park misunderstood a microlight pilot's attempt to signal them to clear the area for an emergency landing before the aircraft eventually crashed. Head of Investigation Capt. Paul Fordjour presented the Bureau's final report on Tuesday, May 26, and explained that the pilot flew the aircraft at a low altitude over Tema Township in an attempt to attract the attention of pupils who were playing on the school field.

The report indicated that the pilot was trying to signal the children to move away from the field to make way for an emergency landing, but "Unfortunately, the school children misunderstood the intentions of the aircraft and happily waved back at the aircraft and continued playing on the field. The attempted landing was therefore aborted." During another forced landing attempt, the aircraft was seen in a left-bank position shortly before it lost control and crashed within the premises of the Tema Day Care School in Community One, near the Oninku School Park.

Investigators said the aircraft's final flight path passed through trees before clipping part of the roof of the daycare facility and eventually crashing into a tree at a dumpsite located between two school buildings. The microlight aircraft was registered as 9G-ADV.