A private jet carrying the president of Liberia, Joseph Boakai, crash landed on Thursday night at Roberts International Airport, causing panic and forcing the suspension of all scheduled flights.
The incident happened as the aircraft was approaching the runway, returning from Abuja, Nigeria, where the president had attended the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to airport officials, the jet suffered a malfunction in its landing gear, which led to a hard landing.
One of the tyres reportedly burst on impact, leaving the aircraft stranded on the runway for hours.
The president and his entourage were quickly evacuated and no injuries were reported.
The situation caused alarm among passengers and staff at the airport, and several flights were cancelled as the runway was temporarily closed.
Pictures of the damaged jet quickly spread across social media, sparking concern about the president’s safety.
Airport authorities confirmed that the jet was eventually removed from the runway and normal flight operations resumed later that night.
In a public statement, they assured that the airport remains safe for use and that the runway is in line with global aviation standards.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the mechanical fault.
The Liberian presidency has not issued an official statement, but President Boakai was seen at the airport briefly speaking with journalists without addressing the jet scare.