LilWin Speaks Out After Turbulent Kumasi-Accra Flight, Urges Airlines to Prioritise Safety Over Schedules

Popular Ghanaian actor and comedian Kwadwo Nkansah, widely known as LilWin, has broken his silence on a deeply unsettling flight experience aboard a Kumasi-to-Accra service that encountered severe turbulence, leaving passengers screaming and fearing for their lives. The actor has since used the platform the incident handed him to call on domestic airlines to take weather conditions far more seriously before clearing flights for departure.

What Happened on the Flight

LilWin, who had recently been discharged from hospital after a bout of illness, boarded the flight to Accra ahead of the premiere of his latest movie, scheduled to be held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. By his account, the aircraft took off during rainy, unsettled weather — a decision that quickly proved alarming once the plane was airborne.

"It was raining, so the plane took off in force. My hat was even ripped off. We were all screaming," the actor recalled, describing a cabin filled with frightened passengers as the aircraft climbed to an altitude he said he had never experienced on that particular route before the situation gradually began to stabilise.

Notably, LilWin said no announcement was made by the crew during the turbulence, which he suggested added to the panic on board. Despite his own fears, the actor — who happened to be dressed in a pilot's costume at the time — said he attempted to calm fellow passengers by encouraging them to pray and stay positive rather than give in to hysteria.

LilWin also disclosed that his spiritual father, Adom Kyei Duah, had expressed reservations about the trip beforehand but offered prayers for his safe journey. Reflecting on the ordeal, he said he was deeply grateful to have landed safely, particularly given the significant personal investment he had made in preparations for his movie premiere.

The incident had already attracted public attention after former Bantama Member of Parliament Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, who was also on the flight, described it as a harrowing experience and called for a full investigation into what took place.

Why It Matters for Ghana

Ghana's domestic aviation sector has grown considerably over the years, with the Kumasi-Accra route being one of the busiest short-haul corridors in the country. Yet incidents like this one shine a light on persistent concerns around flight safety standards, particularly regarding decisions to depart during adverse weather conditions.

Aviation safety experts consistently emphasise that the call on whether conditions are safe enough for take-off rests with the pilot and airline operations teams — but passengers and observers often have little visibility into how those decisions are made. The absence of a crew announcement during the turbulence, as reported by LilWin, also raises questions about cabin communication protocols during in-flight emergencies or disturbances.

With a former parliamentarian also on board and now publicly demanding an investigation, there is growing pressure on the Civil Aviation Authority of Ghana and the airline involved to provide a transparent account of events and to review their weather assessment procedures for domestic departures.

LilWin's Call to Action

Beyond sharing his personal experience, LilWin used the moment to issue a direct appeal to domestic carriers. He urged airlines to delay flights whenever rainfall or other dangerous weather conditions are present at departure, arguing that passenger safety must always take precedence over punctuality and commercial schedules.

• He stressed that no business obligation — including a high-profile movie premiere — was worth risking lives for.
• He encouraged fellow Ghanaians who have similar concerns to speak up and demand better from aviation service providers.
• He also credited prayer and a calm mindset with helping him and others on board get through the ordeal.

As Ghana's aviation industry continues to expand and more Ghanaians take to the skies for domestic travel, the conversation LilWin has sparked is a timely one — and one that regulators would do well to take seriously.