Monrovia — Experiencing the sudden abortion of touchdown by a flight nearly hitting a darkish runway was the “most horrific, terrifying and nerve-racking” incident ever confronted by Sweetie Sharpe who was onboard Brussels SN2608 which needed to hover over Liberian airspace a number of instances earlier than rerouting to Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The flight aborted the touchdown after descending on the Roberts Worldwide Airport and immediately found that the runway was darkish – one thing that might have put the lives of passengers on board in extreme hazard.
Narrating her expertise, Sweetie Sharpe who recorded a video of the pilot asserting why the aircraft couldn’t land and shared it on social media recalled that the after the touchdown was aborted, the aircraft hovered within the air for almost half-hour earlier than deciding to land in Freetown due because it was operating low on jet gas.
“Almost a number of seconds into touchdown the pilot realized there was no electrical energy on the runway making such touchdown inconceivable! For at the very least half-hour we hovered across the metropolis hoping the electrical energy will come again or at the very least talk with somebody at ROB Airport. At which, we had no luck..everybody on board together with myself panicked and have become very afraid. No mild, no communication from ROB workers completely, no reply… ,” she recalled.
She added, “Such expertise had my coronary heart in my mouth, very scared, scary sufficient contemplating all the different elements that come when flying. The concept of experiencing excessive turbulence is terrifying, and the thought of crashing is much more fearful. My expertise was simply an absolute nightmare!”
Within the video recorded by Ms. Sharpe, the pilot is heard asserting “I want to inform you that the airport in Monrovia is closed and there’s no electrical energy in the mean time. They’re attempting to repair it, however we’ve some gas to do a number of miles; however till now, we haven’t any contact on the airport of Monrovia so we’ve determined to return to Freetown. In Freetown, we’ll see if we will take some gas and what the choice can be subsequent… “
RIA: Technical Glitch, Not Blackout
Airport authorities on Wednesday night time blamed the unlucky incident on the airport crew liable for lighting on the airport and vowed to take punitive actions in opposition to these accountable.
In an announcement issued on Thursday, the Liberia Airport Authority denied that the airport was of electrical energy on the time SN Brussels tried touchdown, however stated there was a “technical glitch”. In accordance with the airport administration, the difficulty was resolved in report time.
RIA Administration: “At no time, throughout or earlier than this technical prevalence, was there an influence outage on the Roberts Worldwide Airport, nor was the airport ever closed. The method management was in communication with the Plane always till they made the choice to divert.
“Administration reassures all airport customers that we’re dedicated to making sure their security.”
On the similar time, the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), the regulatory physique for the aviation sector, in an announcement expressed concern over the incident involving SN Brussels.
“We’re grateful that the aircraft safely landed on the RIA that night time, following a number of frantic efforts by the Liberia Airport Authority and the Roberts Worldwide Airport Administration,” the LCAA acknowledged.
In accordance with the LCAA, its technical workforce is engaged on preventive measures with the Liberia Airport Authority to make sure that there isn’t a future prevalence.
“As a regulatory physique, we will guarantee the general public that we’ll conduct an unbiased and thorough investigation into the state of affairs in accordance with the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group’s requirements,” the LCAA acknowledged.
That is the second time in three months a descending aircraft has been compelled to abort touchdown attributable to darkish runway on the RIA. In February, Royal Air Maroc was compelled to additionally divert its touchdown to Freetown because of the similar cause.
To this point, solely SN Brussels and Air France are flying instantly from Europe to Monrovia. Nevertheless, Air France is predicted to make its final journey to Liberia on April 30. The airways stated, the cancellation of flights to Monrovia is because of the inviability of the market right here and the disaster in Mali. Air France resumed its flights to Monrovia in 2020.
“Primarily based on the financial efficiency, the present geopolitical state of affairs and the Air France-KLM’s total plan to revive its profitability, Air France has determined to droop its flights to Monrovia, Liberia, as of the tip of April 2022. Prospects already booked on flights after the tip of April, will probably be knowledgeable individually. The purchasers involved can change their journey plans or cancel the journey and request a refund. Air France want to thank the federal government of Liberia and the airport authorities for his or her continued help within the operation of this route” Air France acknowledged within the assertion issued.
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Darkish Airport Embarrassment
It may be recalled that through the funeral ceremony of Dr. Amos Sawyer, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stated she had anticipated extra dignitaries who had referred to as her to be current on the funeral. “Possibly the airport was too darkish,” she stated.
On March 28, President Weah and different authorities officers had been greeted with darkness upon their arrival on the RIA from the United Arab Emirates the place they’d gone to take part within the EXPO Dubai 2020.
A day later, vacationers had been once more compelled to make use of the torch of their respective telephones to offer mild within the terminals on the airport. A video that went viral on social media, confirmed the vacationers complaining and expressing severe frustration over the disgraceful state of affairs whereas awaiting their respective flights for departure together with their baggage.