A serious incident occurred at Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Liberia when the private jet transporting President Joseph Boakai experienced a malfunction with its landing gear during approach. The aircraft, returning from Nigeria where Boakai had attended the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), encountered a rough landing, according to airport officials.
The alarming occurrence prompted a temporary halt to all air travel at the airport, leading to the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the night, as reported by local media. Fortunately, President Boakai and his entourage were safely evacuated without any injuries, but the incident sparked significant panic among those present at the airport alongside the president.
Images of the jet, which reportedly had a tyre burst during landing leaving it immobilized on the runway, circulated widely on social media. In an official statement, the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) characterized the event as an "unfortunate near-accident situation." They rejected claims that poor runway conditions contributed to the incident, affirming that the airport infrastructure meets international aviation safety standards.
Following the incident, the aircraft was cleared from the runway, and normal operations resumed at RIA. The LAA announced that a thorough investigation is in progress to determine the precise cause of the landing scare and committed to keeping the public updated. So far, the Liberian presidency has not issued a detailed statement regarding the incident but shared images of President Boakai’s arrival at the airport, where he addressed reporters without mentioning the aircraft issue.
As conversations about airport safety continue, the incident highlights the critical aspects of maintaining rigorous aviation standards in the region.
