The incident raised safety concerns but the president and crew escaped unharmed as investigations commence.
Emergency Landing Sparks Chaos as President Boakai's Jet Malfunctions
Emergency Landing Sparks Chaos as President Boakai's Jet Malfunctions
President Joseph Boakai's private jet faced a landing scare, prompting flight cancellations at Liberia's main airport.
A private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai encountered a serious landing scare on Thursday night when part of its landing gear malfunctioned as it approached Roberts International Airport (RIA). This unfortunate event led to a rough landing, triggering panic and resulting in the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the evening, local media reported.
President Boakai was returning home after attending the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in Nigeria, and thankfully, he and his entourage were evacuated without injuries. Authorities confirmed that one of the jet's tyres had burst upon landing, leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway.
Photos showing the stalled presidential jet circulated widely on social media, raising concerns for the safety of the president and his team. The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) addressed the incident, labeling it an “unfortunate near-accident” but clarified that runway conditions did not contribute to the malfunction. "The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards," the LAA stated.
While normal operations resumed after the aircraft was removed, an investigation is currently underway to determine the root cause of the issue. The presidency has yet to provide an official comment on the incident, although pictures of President Boakai arriving were shared on their platforms. During a brief interaction with journalists at the airport, he did not mention the landing scare.
As the investigation develops, residents and travelers are left to ponder the implications of this alarming incident and what it means for aviation safety in Liberia.
President Boakai was returning home after attending the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in Nigeria, and thankfully, he and his entourage were evacuated without injuries. Authorities confirmed that one of the jet's tyres had burst upon landing, leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway.
Photos showing the stalled presidential jet circulated widely on social media, raising concerns for the safety of the president and his team. The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) addressed the incident, labeling it an “unfortunate near-accident” but clarified that runway conditions did not contribute to the malfunction. "The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards," the LAA stated.
While normal operations resumed after the aircraft was removed, an investigation is currently underway to determine the root cause of the issue. The presidency has yet to provide an official comment on the incident, although pictures of President Boakai arriving were shared on their platforms. During a brief interaction with journalists at the airport, he did not mention the landing scare.
As the investigation develops, residents and travelers are left to ponder the implications of this alarming incident and what it means for aviation safety in Liberia.
