African regional operator Starbow Airlines' newly-delivered ATR 72-500 has been badly damaged in a departure accident after just a few hours' service with the carrier.
The aircraft (9G-SBF) had only been delivered to the carrier on 21 November, under lease from Nordic Aviation Capital, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.
It had been departing Accra's Kotoka airport on domestic flight S9104 to Kumasi, some 200km to the north-west of the capital.
But the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority states that the turboprop "skidded off the runway" during its take-off roll.
It came to rest on rough ground having apparently contacted a perimeter fence, with damage to its fuselage and multiple blades on its left-hand Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 engine, images circulating on social media indicate.
Meteorological conditions for the time of the accident – which occurred between 12:20 and 12:45 – indicate the presence of thunderstorm activity and rain at the airport.
The civil aviation authority, which has opened an investigation, says there were 63 passengers and five crew members on board the ATR, with only minor injuries suffered.
Wind conditions and the geometry indicated by the accident site suggest the aircraft had been attempting to take off from runway 21.
Starbow has not detailed the extent of any other damage to the aircraft. The airline had publicised the introduction of the aircraft on 22 November and stated that a second was "scheduled to arrive soon".
But it appears to have deactivated the links to the publicity material on its website following the accident.
Kingfisher Airlines had originally ordered the aircraft, which was delivered to the Indian carrier in 2007. It was subsequently used by operators including Portugalia and Air Pegasus.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
