A private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai narrowly avoided disaster on Thursday night after experiencing a landing gear malfunction while approaching Roberts International Airport (RIA), prompting temporary flight disruptions and public concern.
The incident occurred as President Boakai and his entourage were returning from Nigeria, where he attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to airport authorities, a malfunction in part of the aircraft’s landing gear caused a rough touchdown, with one of the jet’s tyres reportedly bursting on impact.
Panic briefly swept through the airport as the jet stalled on the runway, forcing the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) to cancel all remaining flights for the night. No injuries were reported, and President Boakai was safely evacuated from the aircraft.
Photos showing the jet immobilized on the runway quickly circulated on social media, fuelling public concern over the president’s safety. However, the LAA moved swiftly to reassure the public, confirming that the incident was not related to the condition of the airport’s runway.
“The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards,” the authority stated, adding that normal airport operations resumed after the aircraft was cleared from the runway.
The LAA described the situation as an “unfortunate near-accident” and said a full investigation has been launched to determine the precise cause of the technical failure.
While the Liberian presidency has yet to issue an official statement on the scare, it did share images of President Boakai at the airport following the incident. In a brief exchange with journalists, the president appeared calm and made no mention of the emergency landing.
The incident comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over air travel safety in the region, underscoring the critical importance of aircraft maintenance and emergency preparedness.
