MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A Royal Air Maroc flight, AT-567, was grounded at Roberts International Airport (RIA) early Saturday morning, August 17, 2024, following a runway excursion during its landing. The Boeing 737-800 touched down safely at 5:15 AM, but a post-landing inspection revealed debris on the aircraft and damage to portions of the runway pavement shoulders.
While the aircraft had veered slightly off the runway, it sustained no damage, and fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers and crew. Passengers, who were reportedly unaware of the incident, were later accommodated in local hotels as they awaited a replacement flight.
Aviation authorities are currently investigating the cause of the runway excursion. The aviation tracking site NSH Aviation reported: “Runway excursion for Royal Air Maroc 737 at Monrovia during storms and rains. All passengers and crew are safe.”
The incident, which occurred during adverse weather conditions, is being described as an accident by sources at the RIA. The flight remains at the airport, with the runway excursion happening earlier on Saturday morning. Runway excursions are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a “veer off or overrun off the runway surface.” This can be caused by several factors, including weather conditions, pilot error, or problems with the aircraft or runway.
Sources at the airport indicate that the Accident Investigation Board will be looking into the matter to determine what caused the incident. Possible contributing factors being explored include poor visibility, bad weather, or potential issues with the runway itself.
This incident has brought renewed attention to the safety conditions at Roberts International Airport. Just weeks ago, a Liberian traveler, Elpaulay Jackson, raised concerns about poor visibility at the airport following a difficult landing on a Brussels Airlines flight. Jackson warned that without improvements to visibility and runway conditions, future disasters could occur. Despite media attention and public outcry, RIA management did not address the earlier incident, and they have yet to comment on the latest one involving Royal Air Maroc.
RIA management and the Government of Liberia have not yet issued a statement on this most recent runway excursion, but sources suggest that a formal statement may be forthcoming. Aviation safety remains a critical issue, and the outcome of the investigation will be closely watched by both authorities and the public.
