Travelers and staff at Roberts International Airport (RIA) faced unexpected delays and frustration Sunday evening after a sudden power outage plunged parts of the airport into darkness, disrupting operations for hours.
The blackout, which occurred around 5:00 PM, left passengers scrambling as check-in counters, baggage systems, and other critical services were temporarily halted. Some travelers took to social media to express their concerns, with one passenger writing, “Stuck at RIA with no power, how does an international airport not have reliable electricity?”
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) quickly addressed the situation, attributing the outage to a failure in the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) grid. While backup generators eventually restored partial power, the disruption underscored long-standing worries about the airport’s dependence on the national grid and its ability to handle such emergencies.
This is not the first time RIA has struggled with power instability. Past outages have raised alarms about the airport’s infrastructure readiness, especially as Liberia aims to position itself as a regional travel hub. Critics argue that Africa’s busiest airports should have more robust backup systems to avoid such disruptions.
An LAA spokesperson apologized for the inconvenience and assured the public that technicians were working to fully restore operations. However, no specific timeline was provided, leaving passengers and airline operators in limbo.
The incident has reignited debates about Liberia’s broader energy challenges and the need for sustainable solutions at key facilities like RIA. Some aviation experts suggest that investing in solar energy or stronger independent power systems could prevent future outages.
As authorities work to resolve the immediate crisis, travelers and businesses are left hoping that this latest setback will prompt meaningful upgrades, ensuring smoother journeys for all who pass through Liberia’s premier airport.
For now, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates and prepare for possible delays until full power is restored.
