Flight operations at Roberts International Airport (RIA) have officially resumed following Thursday night’s temporary suspension caused by a runway incident involving a private jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed that the private jet suffered a tire burst during landing, leaving the aircraft immobile and prompting the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the night of May 29.
Emergency response teams and aviation experts were immediately dispatched to secure the scene. The aircraft has since been safely removed from the active runway area, allowing for the full resumption of flight operations.
“All passengers onboard, including President Boakai and other occupants, were safely evacuated without injury,” the LAA stated. “The safety of passengers, crew, and airport personnel is always our highest priority.”
The Authority commended the swift professionalism of its emergency teams and emphasized that all safety procedures were properly followed during the incident response.
Addressing speculation that the incident was linked to poor runway conditions, the LAA firmly denied such claims. In a statement issued Thursday night, the agency clarified that the runway is in full compliance with international aviation safety standards and was not responsible for the mechanical failure.
“The incident was caused solely by a mechanical failure involving the aircraft’s tire and not due to any structural defect of the runway,” the LAA asserted.
As normal operations resume, the Authority expressed appreciation to the traveling public for their patience and understanding during the disruption. Officials also reiterated the LAA’s commitment to transparency, passenger safety, and continued investment in Liberia’s aviation infrastructure.
Further updates will be provided if necessary, the statement added.
