Liberian president escapes injury after plane tire bursts during landing VIDEO

Liberian President Joseph Nyumah Boakai Sr. was involved in a potentially dangerous aviation incident when a tire on his private aircraft burst during landing.

The event took place as the aircraft was descending on the runway, causing immediate concern for all onboard, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) promptly confirmed that the president and all other passengers were safely evacuated without any injuries. Airport officials emphasised that personnel responded according to standard safety protocols, ensuring the situation was brought under control quickly and efficiently.

In response to the incident, aviation experts issued warnings that the situation could have ended in tragedy and called on the government to prioritise improvements to the country’s aviation sector. They stressed the need for comprehensive inspections and investments to prevent future occurrences.

The incident disrupted operations at the airport, leading to the cancellation of all scheduled evening flights. Major carriers such as Kenya Airways, ASKY, and Air Peace temporarily suspended their services out of caution and in coordination with airport authorities.

Amid speculation in local media that the cause may have been deteriorating runway conditions, the LAA issued a formal statement refuting these claims. Officials clarified that the airport’s runway meets international safety standards and that the incident resulted solely from a mechanical failure — specifically, the bursting of one of the aircraft’s tires upon landing.

By Tamilla Hasanova