The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), which manages the airport, has denied that any such incident occurred.
Monrovia – Reports of a security breach involving an alleged intrusion onto the runway of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) have sparked fresh concerns about safety and perimeter control at Liberia’s main aviation hub.
However, the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), which manages the airport, has denied that any such incident occurred.
Sources close to the airport told FrontPageAfrica that a mentally ill woman reportedly breached the perimeter fence and was seen on the active runway before being removed by airport security personnel. Although no official records or airline reports confirm the incident, the alleged breach has reignited scrutiny over the airport’s infrastructure and overall security readiness.
“These kinds of breaches are not new,” one source claimed under condition of anonymity. “The concrete fence has multiple openings that allow people, cows, goats, and even snakes to enter the airport freely. The vegetation is overgrown, and there are no patrol vehicles for regular checks, especially at night. Runway markings are barely visible now. It’s a serious safety concern.”
The source also alleged that several critical departments at the airport, including security, firefighting, and sanitation, currently lack functional utility vehicles due to logistical and financial constraints.
According to the source, these departments often rely on rented vehicles while senior management uses assigned pickups for personal purposes.
The allegations come months after Transport Minister Sirleaf R. Tyler labeled the aviation sector a national emergency and pledged reforms aimed at addressing operational and infrastructure challenges. Insiders, however, argue that little progress has been made.
In response, the Liberia Airport Authority has denied that any runway breach took place over the weekend, dismissing the claims as unfounded and misleading.
“There was no report, record, or occurrence of a mad woman entering the runway, nor any intrusion by wildlife,” a senior LAA official said in a statement to FrontPageAfrica. “We operate with full compliance with international safety and security protocols. None of the airlines we serve have filed complaints or incident reports related to such claims.”
The LAA emphasized that airport security conducts regular patrols and perimeter surveillance in collaboration with national security agencies, and that safety remains a top priority despite ongoing infrastructure improvements.
“The narrative that the airport is unsecured and dysfunctional is not only inaccurate but damaging to the credibility of the aviation sector,” the official said. “We welcome constructive criticism, but it must be rooted in facts.”
Roberts International Airport remains Liberia’s primary gateway for international travel and commerce. As the government seeks to modernize the sector and attract more global carriers, maintaining the safety, credibility, and functionality of RIA is seen as central to achieving those goals.
