Thursday night’s temporary disturbance of flights at Liberia’s major airport resulted from a private jet carrying President Joseph Boakai almost crashing while landing.
Airport officials reported that part of the presidential jet’s landing gear malfunctioned as it was nearing the runway, leading to a bumpy landing.
Local media stated that the event, which set off airport panic, resulted in the cancelation of all evening planned flights.
Authorities declared an inquiry as President Boakai, returning from a trip in Nigeria with his entourage, was successfully evacuated unharmed.
Social media posts of pictures of the stopped jet at Roberts International Airport (RIA) sparked questions regarding the president’s security.
Local media, referencing airport authorities, claimed one of the aircraft’s tires had burst upon landing and left it stranded on the runway.
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed in a statement the “unfactory near-accident situation” involving the presidential jet.
Reports implying that bad runway conditions caused the disaster were discounted by the authority.
“The runway infrastructure remains totally compliant with international aviation safety standards,” the LAA added.
The officials reported that the aircraft was taken off the runway and that regular activities at the airport have started once more.
“At this stage, investigation to establish the actual cause of the incident is ongoing; the airport authority will keep the public informed,” the LAA said.
The Liberian presidency has not officially commented on the event; instead, it sent pictures of Boakai arriving at the airport, where he chatted momentarily with reporters without addressing the plane scare.
He had visited Nigeria to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the regional Economic Community of West African States.
