At a hearing conducted by the Senate Joint Committee on Transport, Energy, and Aviation on April 2, officials from the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) disclosed that birds feeding near nearby dumpsites were responsible for the recent power disruption at Roberts International Airport (RIA). The birds perched on transformers, leading to the outage.
The power failure, which occurred on the evening of March 30, was initially attributed to an issue with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) power grid. However, further investigation revealed that birds had interfered with the transformers, resulting in a temporary power loss that affected airport operations.
LAA officials explained that the birds struck an isolator connected to a transformer, triggering the outage. LEC Deputy Managing Director for Operations, Thomas Gonkerwon, described the incident as unique and unforeseeable but assured the Senate committee that swift measures had been taken to restore power.
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has expressed regret over the power outage at RIA. In a statement, the authority apologized for the disruption and reassured the public that steps are being taken to improve the airport’s power supply infrastructure.
The LAA acknowledged the inconvenience caused to passengers, airport staff, and other stakeholders by the unforeseen incident.
“We deeply regret the disruption this caused and fully understand the concerns raised regarding the reliability of the airport’s power systems,” the statement read.
The authority further emphasized its commitment to preventing future power outages and strengthening the resilience of the airport’s electrical systems.
“We are taking decisive steps to enhance the airport’s power infrastructure,” the statement continued. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of all affected parties.”
Meanwhile, a high-level committee appointed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is actively investigating the power outage at RIA.
The committee, led by National Security Advisor Kofi Woods, recently held a crucial meeting with LAA management to discuss the situation and develop comprehensive solutions for ensuring a reliable power supply at the airport.
The committee’s mission is to thoroughly examine the power crisis and provide recommendations to prevent future disruptions.
During the meeting, officials discussed the specifics of the March 30 outage, which was caused by an electrical shock affecting the transmitter line and damaging the automatic switch.
“The committee’s role is to thoroughly investigate the power crisis and provide a detailed report and action plan to President Boakai,” said Kofi Woods.
“We are committed to working closely with the Liberia Airport Authority to address the challenges and ensure the airport’s power supply is stable and reliable.”
