A middle-aged man was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for lighting cigarettes on a Qatar Airways passenger flight.
According to reports, the flight from Doha, Qatar, stopped in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, for several passengers travelling to the country to disembark.
The suspect, who did not have a transit visa for Cote D’Ivoire, also attempted to disembark, supposedly to smoke, but was asked not to.
He reportedly went to the plane’s washroom to smoke, filling the cabin with the smell of cigarettes.
However, the plane’s smoke alarms failed to sound.
After he returned to his seat, his seatmate warned him about the act, stating that it violated public safety rules, but he refused to heed.
The suspect reportedly returned to the washroom, raising suspicion that he may have tampered with the smoke alarm.
Flight attendants were seen in heated exchanges causing a scare for the scores of passengers on board.
The flight crew had to conduct an extensive investigation before the flight continued its journey to Ghana.
This caused considerable delays for passengers.
READ ALSO: Stop Unprofessionalism At KIA Or Face Sanctions – Minister Warns Immigration Officers
Upon arrival at KIA, he was handed over to officers from the Ghana Police Service.
This comes after the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) interdicted some staff members allegedly involved in a cocaine smuggling incident at the Kotoka International Airport.
In a statement dated April 10, 2024, the company said the relevant authorities had launched investigations into the alleged smuggling of 8.5 kilograms of substance suspected to be cocaine through KIA.
This followed reports of the interception of illegal drugs at Brussels Airport in Belgium, believed to have been smuggled through KIA aboard Royal Air Maroc, facilitated by a GACL staff member on March 23, 2024.
In line with GACL’s internal administrative processes, management interdicted all staff relevant to the investigation.