Monrovia, Liberia — An aircraft transporting President Joseph Nyuma Boakai from Accra, Ghana, experienced difficulties landing at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) on Saturday due to a runway obstruction caused by a disabled Ethiopian Airlines plane.
Sources, including passengers at the airport, told Verity News that an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft broke down in the middle of the runway, temporarily blocking landing operations. The situation prevented a Kenyan Airlines aircraft, which was carrying President Boakai, from landing upon its initial approach.
As a result, the president’s plane was forced to circulate in the air for a period while airport authorities worked to clear the runway. Although the disabled Ethiopian Airlines aircraft was not completely removed, enough space was eventually created to allow the presidential aircraft to land safely.
The plane touched down during the early evening hours and taxied successfully at RIA. President Boakai later proceeded to Monrovia without incident.
Meanwhile, the Airport authorities have issued an official statement regarding the mechanical failure of the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft.
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed a runway incident at Roberts International Airport (RIA) that temporarily delayed the landing of the aircraft bringing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai from Accra, Ghana, corroborating earlier reports by Verity News.
Minutes after the incident occurred, Verity News reported that the aircraft transporting President Boakai experienced a brief delay before landing at RIA. According to multiple passenger sources cited by the outlet, the Kenyan Airways aircraft was unable to land immediately due to a disabled Ethiopian Airlines plane that had broken down in the middle of the runway.
Passengers said the presidential aircraft circled in the air for some time while airport authorities worked to remove the stalled plane and secure the runway for a safe landing.
In a press statement issued Saturday night, January 31, the LAA provided official details of the incident, identifying the disabled aircraft as Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 943. The authority said the aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 5:27 p.m. but suffered a mechanical malfunction while attempting to exit the runway via a designated taxiway, leaving it temporarily immobile.
“Airport recovery teams were immediately deployed, and the aircraft was safely towed from the runway to the tarmac,” the LAA said.
The authority emphasized that passengers and crew were safe at all times and that airport operations resumed smoothly after the runway was cleared.
The LAA further disclosed that the mechanical fault on the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft was promptly repaired and that the flight later departed on its scheduled journey.
In response to the incident, the airport authority has formally requested the Liberia Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to conduct an independent investigation to determine the root cause and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
“The LAA remains committed to upholding the highest standards of aviation safety, operational efficiency, and service to the traveling public,” the statement concluded.
