The United States government has warned that the Roberts International Airport is becoming of more danger to travelers as a result of lapses in the airport safety, security, and emergency standards.
The US Embassy in a travel alert issued recently, stated that the failure of the country’s only international airport to pass several compliance audits recently raises concern about the safety of the airport and incoming flights and passengers.
“US citizens contemplating air travel into or out of RIA, which is Liberia’s only international airport, should be aware that several airport safety, security, and emergency response capabilities remain below international standards,” the alert reads.
“The US Embassy in Monrovia is aware of several recent audits of RIA, all of which have revealed significant shortcomings in airport safety, security, and operational standards,” the release added.
However, the U.S alert comes as the Liberian government struggles to address Brussels Airlines’ concerns about safety compliance, which include the calibration of the airport navigation equipment, the air traffic control tower, runway, and stand, as well as security setup.
But the airline has been complaining for months of overall safety defects at the RIA and, at one point in time, canceled all flights to Liberia but later withdrew such a decision after the government had promised to address their concerns.
The airport has also in time past suffered from serious power outages that risked the lives of both inbound and outbound passengers. On February 22, a Royal Air Maroc jet approaching the RIA had to divert to Free Town, Sierra Leone, to make an emergency landing, leaving numerous passengers stranded.
The decision came after the RIA runway and control tower lights went off just as the plane was about to land. And as the aircraft would not wait for any longer after circling aimlessly above the RIA, it went to Sierra Leone.
Furthermore, the U.S embassy in its alert added that the Liberia Airport Authority and the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority had taken steps to address the airport shortcomings, which necessitated the warning.
The Embassy advised that, while it is not aware that airlines have shortened their operating schedules to RIA, US persons who wish to visit Liberia should review or establish contingency travel plans.
See full release below:
“The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia is aware of several recent audits of Roberts International Airport (RIA), all of which have revealed significant shortcomings in airport safety, security, and operational standards.
We are aware that RIA, the Liberia Airport Authority, and the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority have begun steps to address these shortcomings in recent months.
However, U.S. citizens contemplating air travel into or out of RIA, which is Liberia’s only international airport, should be aware that few if any of these shortcomings have been adequately resolved to date, and that several airport safety, security, and emergency response capabilities remain below international standards.
The Embassy is not aware that airlines have reduced operating schedules to RIA in response to these audit findings. We will update this message should we become aware of any such plans.
Actions to Take:
Review your travel plan.
Make contingency travel plans.
Monitor local media, airline, and travel agency websites.
Prepare for delays in travel and have funds to cover these delays.”
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