By: Samuel Borlay
Email: borlaysamuel@gmail.com
On the early morning of Saturday, August 17, 2024, at approximately 05:15 HRS, a Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800 Series flight, number AT-567, landed at Roberts International Airport without initial incident. The aircraft taxied and docked at the jetway smoothly. However, during routine pre-departure inspections, significant debris was discovered on the aircraft.
According to a statement from the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), “Routine inspections revealed that the aircraft had picked up substantial debris, leading to a more detailed investigation.” The subsequent airport Safety Compliance team discovered damage to the runway pavement shoulders, with large debris scattered along the runway.
The LAA promptly informed the airline crew through the aircraft engineer and grounded the aircraft until further notice. Both the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) were contacted. “Inspection teams from LCAA and AAIB, along with the Minister of Transport, visited the scene to conduct further observations,” said an LAA spokesperson.
The investigation revealed that the aircraft, although it veered off the runway, did not suffer any structural damage, and there were no injuries or fatalities among the passengers. The LAA confirmed that passengers were unaware of the incident and were later accommodated in nearby hotels while awaiting a replacement flight.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation by the LCAA and AAIB. The aircraft remains grounded pending further analysis. The LAA emphasized its commitment to “maintaining the highest safety standards for passengers and aircraft,” and will provide updates as new information becomes available.
