A series of missteps and poor handling of passengers is creating concerns among Liberians about the operations of ASKY Airlines, which makes flights to Liberia via Côte d’Ivoire and Accra, Ghana.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; June 30, 2025: ASKY Airlines is facing growing public scrutiny here, following a string of troubling incidents involving midair technical issues and widespread luggage mishandling on recent flights through Liberia and Ghana.
According to sources, an ASKY flight en route from Accra, Ghana, to Monrovia, Liberia, developed technical difficulties midair, forcing an emergency landing in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Although the aircraft was later repaired and continued to Liberia, passengers arrived with only their carry-on items; checked luggage was left behind.
The incident has sparked alarm among Liberians, including government officials. Bong County Senator Prince Moye, Chair of the Liberian Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Development Planning, expressed serious concerns about the airline’s continued operations in Liberian airspace.
“I am worried because ASKY is the airline scheduled to take me to Lomé, Togo,” Senator Moye said in an interview. “We are going to elevate this matter at the level of the Legislature to understand what ASKY management is doing amid all these troubling conditions.”
ASKY Airlines, dubbed “The Pan-African Airline,” is a private carrier headquartered in Lomé, Togo. It operates across West and Central Africa and is a strategic partner of Ethiopian Airlines. The airline has reportedly maintained profitability since 2017.
However, the recent incidents have raised serious questions about its operational reliability. Passengers report that the same aircraft involved in the emergency landing was later used for their flight from Accra to Monrovia just days afterward. The flight was delayed for over an hour, adding to passengers’ already heightened anxiety from the earlier incident.
Upon arriving in Monrovia, travelers were stunned to learn that none of their checked luggage had been loaded onto the flight; only their carry-ons had made the trip. “Each passenger had at least one bag left behind,” wrote Liberian journalist Julius Jeh in a Facebook post. “Some had two or more.”
Airport staff at Roberts International Airport (RIA), though not affiliated with ASKY, speculated that the missing baggage might arrive on the next flight. That, too, proved false hope. Saturday’s ASKY flight arrived with passengers but no luggage. “The baggage conveyor belt didn’t even turn,” Jeh noted.
To make matters worse, some luggage had reportedly been rerouted via Kenya Airways to Monrovia but still failed to arrive. Passengers say the airline has not provided any communication or explanation, leaving them frustrated and uncertain.
“What kind of airline repeatedly flies with just passengers and no luggage?” Jeh questioned. “Is this the same plane that was grounded in Abidjan? If so, why is it still being used without a clear safety assessment?”
He urged Liberian aviation authorities to act swiftly before a more serious incident occurred. “We can’t rely on hope alone. Faith must be matched by responsible action,” he said.
With public anxiety mounting, many are calling on the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority to investigate the airline and ensure it meets international safety and service standards. Editing by Jonathan Browne
