From Joshua Chibuzo Andrew
A private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai crash-landed on Thursday night at Roberts International Airport, triggering panic and temporarily halting all flight operations.
The incident occurred as the jet was approaching the runway after returning from Abuja, Nigeria, where President Boakai had attended the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS.
According to airport officials, a malfunction in the landing gear led to a hard landing, causing one of the tyres to burst on impact.
The president and his entourage were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. However, the damaged aircraft remained stranded on the runway for hours, leading to the suspension of scheduled flights and significant disruption.
Images of the jet circulated rapidly on social media, heightening concerns over the president’s safety. Airport authorities later confirmed that the jet was removed and normal flight operations resumed later that night.
In a statement, airport management stressed that the runway remains safe and compliant with global aviation standards, while a full investigation has been launched into the mechanical failure.
