Liberian President’s Plane: Landing Scare
- A private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai experienced a rough landing at Roberts International Airport (RIA) on Thursday night due to a landing gear malfunction.
- Airport authorities reported that part of the presidential jet's landing gear failed as it approached the runway.
- President Boakai and his entourage were returning from Nigeria, where he attended the 50th anniversary of the economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Liberian President Joseph Boakai’s jet faced a harrowing landing at Roberts International Airport due to a landing gear malfunction, sparking immediate flight cancellations and triggering an official investigation. Imagine the scene: a presidential jet, tires burst, and a runway plunged into uncertainty. The incident,which occurred after Boakai returned from Nigeria,prompted widespread concern and raised questions about airport safety protocols. News Directory 3 is closely following the unfolding developments, as the Liberia Airport Authority works to determine the root cause of the near-accident. The runway has as reopened, but the investigation continues, promising further updates. Discover what’s next as we unpack the details and potential implications of this alarming event.
Liberia President’s Jet Involved in Near-Crash Landing
A private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai experienced a rough landing at Roberts International Airport (RIA) on Thursday night due to a landing gear malfunction. The incident led to temporary flight disruptions and prompted an official investigation.
Airport authorities reported that part of the presidential jet’s landing gear failed as it approached the runway. Local media outlets noted the incident caused considerable panic, resulting in the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the night.
President Boakai and his entourage were returning from Nigeria, where he attended the 50th anniversary of the economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He was safely evacuated from the aircraft unharmed.
images circulating on social media showed the stalled jet on the runway, raising concerns about the president’s safety. According to local reports citing airport officials, one of the jet’s tires burst upon landing, leaving it stranded.
The liberia Airport Authority (LAA) acknowledged the “unfortunate near-accident situation” involving the presidential jet in a statement.The LAA refuted claims that poor runway conditions contributed to the incident.
“The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards,” the LAA stated.
Authorities confirmed the aircraft has been removed, and normal airport operations have resumed.
The LAA added, “At this stage, investigation to establish the actual cause of the incident is ongoing, and the airport authority will keep the public informed.”
While the Liberian presidency has yet to issue a formal statement, photos were shared of Boakai arriving at the airport, briefly addressing journalists without mentioning the landing scare.
What’s next
The Liberia Airport Authority continues it’s investigation into the cause of the landing gear malfunction. Further updates are expected as the inquiry progresses.