– After Tire Puncture During Landing
Monrovia – The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has confirmed a near-accident involving a private aircraft transporting President Joseph N. Boakai, following a tire puncture during landing at Roberts International Airport (RIA) on Thursday.
The flight, returning from Lagos, Nigeria, where President Boakai attended ECOWAS’s 50th-anniversary summit, experienced complications upon approach when one of its tires burst, leading to a rough but controlled landing. Despite the scare, the President and all passengers were safely evacuated without injuries, thanks to the swift execution of the airport’s emergency protocols.
In its statement released late Thursday, the LAA strongly denied speculation that the incident resulted from runway deficiencies, warning against the spread of unverified claims. “The aircraft has been cleared from the runway, and operations at RIA have fully resumed,” officials stated, adding that an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the tire failure.
The LAA assured the public of its commitment to aviation safety and pledged to provide updates as the probe progresses.
