A tense situation unfolded at Liberia’s Roberts International Airport (RIA) on Thursday night when the private jet carrying President Joseph Boakai experienced a near-crash landing. The incident, attributed to a landing gear malfunction, caused significant disruption and sparked concerns about the president’s safety.

Upon approach, part of the presidential jet’s landing gear failed, resulting in a rough landing that sent ripples of panic through the airport. Scheduled flights were immediately grounded for the night as authorities responded to the emergency. Thankfully, President Boakai and his entourage, returning from an ECOWAS event in Nigeria, were safely evacuated from the aircraft unharmed. Images of the stranded jet quickly spread across social media, amplifying worries about the situation. Initial reports from local media indicated that a tire burst upon landing, leaving the plane immobilized on the runway.

The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has since confirmed the incident, describing it as an “unfortunate near-accident situation.” While dismissing claims of poor runway conditions as the cause, the LAA assured the public that the runway infrastructure meets international aviation safety standards. An investigation is currently underway to determine the precise cause of the malfunction. Meanwhile, the aircraft has been successfully removed, and normal airport operations have resumed. The Liberian presidency has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident but shared photos of President Boakai’s arrival at the airport, where he briefly addressed reporters without mentioning the near-disaster.