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When the President Isn’t Safe: The Alarming State of Liberia’s Roberts International Airport

  • Writer: Michael T
    Michael T
  • May 30
  • 2 min read

President Boakai at RIA after near-crash experience
President Boakai at RIA after near-crash experience

Roberts International Airport (RIA), Liberia’s sole international gateway, has become a glaring symbol of institutional neglect. A recent incident involving President Joseph Boakai’s jet, which burst a tire and skidded off the runway, has exposed systemic failures that endanger travelers and erode national credibility. While officials dismiss the event as a “mechanical issue,” evidence points to a far deeper rot in infrastructure and accountability[1][3].


Power outages, a recurring nightmare at RIA, justify its precarious state. In March 2025, a bird strike triggered a transformer failure, plunging the terminal into darkness and stranding passengers who resorted to phone lights to retrieve luggage. Liberia Electricity Corporation officials admitted the airport’s wiring was faulty, while the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) conceded it lacked contingency plans for such crises[1]. These admissions followed a Senate hearing where lawmakers grilled officials over years of mismanagement, with one senator warning of an “irreversible collapse” without urgent intervention[1].


Safety audits compound these concerns. The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia has explicitly warned travelers that RIA’s operational standards, security protocols, and emergency response capabilities fall “far below international norms,” urging citizens to prepare for delays and potential dangers[3]. Despite pledges from Liberian authorities to address shortcomings, little progress has been made. The airport’s lone runway, riddled with cracks, and its mothballed Taxiway Bravo—closed for repairs since 2024—reflect a pattern of deferred maintenance[1][3].


Financial opacity exacerbates the crisis. While RIA generates over $10 million annually from fees, less than $3 million is reinvested into infrastructure. The LAA’s budget allocations raise questions about fund diversion, with no transparency into how revenues are spent[1]. This fiscal neglect contrasts starkly with grandiose projects like a Chinese-funded terminal completed in 2019, which did little to address core issues like power reliability or wildlife control[1][3].


The airport’s decline carries dire economic and diplomatic consequences. Repeated incidents—from diverted flights due to control-tower outages to aborted landings amid farm-fire smoke—damage Liberia’s reputation as it seeks foreign investment[1][3]. As one observer noted, “If the president isn’t safe, what hope is there for the rest of us?”


Liberia cannot afford complacency. Without transparent audits, sustained funding, and operational overhauls, RIA’s deterioration will continue to risk lives and isolate the nation. The president’s close call is not just a wake-up call—it’s a distress signal Liberia can no longer ignore.




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Additional Sources



[3] The Liberian US Embassy Warns Of Safety At The Country's Main ... https://simpleflying.com/liberian-us-embassy-airport-safety-warning/

[4] How the news rewires your brain - Mayo Clinic Press https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/how-the-news-rewires-your-brain/

[5] Park Beautiful But Breaks Airport Safety Standards - The DayLight https://thedaylight.org/2022/04/19/park-beautiful-but-breaks-airport-safety-standards/

[6] AIRSIDE SAFETY WORKS - ROBERTS AIRPORT MONROVIA https://www.eib.org/en/projects/pipelines/all/20130261

[8] Liberia's Aviation Advances with Performance-Based Navigation ... https://lcaa.gov.lr/media/press-releases/liberias-aviation-advances-performance-based-navigation-training

[9] GREAT AVIATION QUOTES Flight Safety https://www.aviationquotations.com/safetyquotes.php

[10] [PDF] Just Culture in Aviation: A Metaphorical Study on Aircraft ... https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1868&context=ijaaa

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