Liberia’s main airport faced temporary chaos Thursday night when President Joseph Boakai’s private jet suffered a landing gear malfunction during arrival from Nigeria, forcing the cancellation of all scheduled flights.
The aircraft, carrying the president and his delegation from an ECOWAS summit, made a rough landing after a tire burst on the Roberts International Airport (RIA) runway, sparking panic but leaving all passengers unharmed.
Meanwhile, the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed the “near-accident situation” while vehemently denying allegations of poor runway conditions. “Our infrastructure meets all international safety standards,” officials stated as photos of the stranded jet circulated on social media. Investigators are now examining whether mechanical failure or pilot error caused the mishap, with the disabled aircraft since removed to restore normal operations.
President Boakai, who attended the 50th-anniversary summit of the West African bloc, briefly addressed journalists upon evacuation without referencing the incident. The presidency later shared images of his safe arrival, attempting to quell public concern. The disruption highlights lingering aviation safety challenges in the region, despite RIA’s recent upgrades to accommodate international flights.
While the LAA has pledged transparency in its investigation but faces pressure to reassure travelers and airlines about RIA’s operational reliability.
