All flights at the country’s main airport were temporarily suspended Friday when a private Gulfstream IV jet carrying Liberian President Joseph Boakai was stuck at the Runway at Roberts International Airport (RIA)
According to a Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed report, the President’s private flight reportedly struck an object on the runway and malfunctioned causing smoke to emanate from the plane upon landing. He was returning from The ECOWAS SUMMIT in Nigeria.
The malfunction led to a rough landing, during which one of the plane’s tires reportedly burst, leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway.
The “unfortunate near-accident situation,” was not related to runway conditions, LAA said: “The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards,” the authority asserted, addressing speculation about inadequate facilities.
Meanwhile the President is safe and back to his office.
