Flights have been briefly disrupted at Liberia predominant airport on Thursday night time after a personal jet carrying President Joseph Boakai virtually crashed whereas touchdown.
A part of the presidential jet’s touchdown gear malfunctioned whereas approaching the runway, inflicting a tough touchdown, airport authorities mentioned.
The incident, which sparked panic on the airport, compelled the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the night time, native media reported.
President Boakai, who was coming back from a visit in Nigeria together with his entourage, was safely evacuated unhurt, as authorities introduced an investigation.
Pictures of the stalled jet on the Roberts Worldwide Airport (RIA) circulated on social media, triggering considerations concerning the president’s security.
Native media, citing airport authorities, mentioned one of many airplane’s tyres had burst upon touchdown leaving it stranded on the runway.
In an announcement, the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed the “unlucky near-accident scenario” involving the presidential jet.
The authority dismissed stories suggesting that the incident was brought on by poor runway circumstances.
“The runway infrastructure stays totally compliant with worldwide aviation security requirements,” the LAA mentioned.
The plane has since been faraway from the runway and regular operations have resumed on the airport, the authorities mentioned.
“At this stage, investigation to determine the precise explanation for the incident is ongoing, and the airport authority will preserve the general public knowledgeable,” the LAA mentioned.
The Liberian presidency is but to touch upon the incident but it surely shared pictures of Boakai arriving on the airport, the place he briefly spoke to journalists with out mentioning the airplane scare.
He had gone to Nigeria to attend the fiftieth anniversary of the regional Financial Neighborhood of West African States (Ecowas).
