A private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai made an emergency hard landing at Roberts International Airport in the capital, Monrovia, due to a serious technical malfunction. While no casualties were reported, the incident sparked widespread panic across the country.
According to officials, the private aircraft transporting President Boakai and his delegation from Nigeria experienced a technical fault during landing. One of the plane’s tires reportedly burst upon runway contact, causing the aircraft to make a hard landing and come to a halt on the runway.
Overnight Chaos at the Airport
Following the incident, all flights at Roberts International Airport were cancelled throughout the night, and security measures in the area were significantly increased. Local media reported scenes of panic at the airport, with emergency response teams quickly deployed to the scene.
President in Good Health
Liberian authorities confirmed that President Boakai was unharmed in the incident and that the aircraft was safely evacuated. An official statement read, “Our Honourable President escaped the incident without injury. All passengers were safely evacuated.”
Allegations Firmly Denied
The Liberia Airport Authority firmly denied allegations circulating after the incident that poor runway maintenance had played a role in the accident. The agency stated that the event was not caused by runway conditions but was the result of a purely technical failure. It also emphasised that the aircraft narrowly avoided a crash.
International Aviation Safety Units Notified
Authorities announced that a detailed technical investigation into the incident had begun. Liberia’s civil aviation authority has also started sharing information on the incident with international aviation bodies.
