AWA debunks reports of aircraft technical fault and passenger evacuation at Kumasi Airport

Africa World Airlines (AWA) has categorically denied reports circulating on social media that one of its aircraft encountered technical issues at Kumasi Airport, leading to a passenger evacuation. The airline released a statement on Saturday, November 7, asserting that such an incident never took place and urging the public and media organizations to disregard the false report.

The incident centers around an Embraer E190, an aircraft that began conducting demonstration flights on November 5, 2026, to meet the requirements of regulatory authorities for its entry into commercial service. According to AWA, demonstration flights are a mandatory step set forth by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which must be completed before the aircraft can commence scheduled commercial operations.

The statement emphasized that only the flight crew and GCAA inspectors were present during these exercises, with no passengers involved, making the claims of a passenger evacuation entirely unfounded. The airline further explained that demonstration flights are a standard procedure when introducing a new aircraft type into service.

These flights are conducted under the oversight of the GCAA to evaluate the aircraft's operational readiness and ensure compliance with safety standards. AWA has strongly urged the public and media organizations to rely on its official communication channels for accurate information regarding its operations, rather than spreading unverified reports.

The airline also warned that it has the authority to take appropriate action against individuals who knowingly spread false information about the airline.