Monrovia, Liberia – A private jet carrying Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai was involved in a landing scare on Thursday night after one of its tyres reportedly burst while touching down at the country’s main airport.
The incident, which airport officials described as a “near-accident,” happened as the aircraft approached the runway at Roberts International Airport (RIA), just outside Monrovia.
Though the president and his entourage were unharmed, the botched landing triggered a wave of concern and forced a temporary suspension of all other flights. Emergency crews were quickly dispatched to the scene, and images of the jet stalled on the tarmac soon spread across social media.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the Liberia Airport Authority confirmed that part of the jet’s landing gear had malfunctioned during descent.
“There was an unfortunate near-accident situation involving the presidential aircraft,” the statement read. “Initial assessment points to a tyre burst on impact, which left the aircraft disabled on the runway.”
The authority was quick to dispel rumours suggesting poor maintenance or faulty runway conditions had contributed to the incident.
“The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards,” it said.
President Boakai had been returning from Nigeria, where he attended the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja. Though visibly calm on arrival, he did not address the landing incident when he briefly spoke to reporters at the airport.
As of Friday morning, the aircraft had been removed from the runway, and flight operations had resumed, according to airport officials.
A full investigation has been launched to determine what exactly caused the tyre to burst and whether any mechanical fault or procedural oversight played a role. “The public will be kept informed,” the airport authority said.
The Liberian presidency has yet to issue an official comment on the scare. However, photographs of President Boakai disembarking and greeting officials were circulated on the government’s official channels, a subtle nod to his safety.
While the incident did not result in any injuries, it has stirred debate among Liberians about aircraft safety and the state of the country’s aviation oversight.
Airport safety expert Amos Togba, speaking from Monrovia, noted that runway incidents involving heads of state though rare often prompt thorough safety reviews. “The key is transparency in the investigation,” he said. “People need assurance that this won’t happen again.”
As investigations proceed, many in the capital are simply relieved the president is safe. Still, questions about aircraft maintenance, contingency plans, and emergency preparedness remain in the air.
