The Sierra Leonean government has completed its investigations regarding the unauthorized landing of a fourteen-seater aircraft at Freetown International Airport (FNA) on September 20, 2024.

Following the incident, which raised significant security concerns, airport and security authorities acted swiftly to seize the aircraft and initiate a thorough investigation.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered four individuals on board the aircraft, including the captain. Among them were three Mexican nationals and one individual holding a Spanish passport.

All four crew members were taken into custody for interrogation at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), alongside two air traffic controllers, who were also detained to assist with the inquiry.

Extensive police investigations, including detailed searches and forensic swabs conducted by both local and international experts, yielded no evidence of any illegal activities or items of interest aboard the aircraft.

Following the conclusion of the investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions issued a recommendation for civil charges against the crew members for multiple violations of the Civil Aviation Act of 2023.

The alleged offenses included operating an aircraft without the necessary personnel and operating certificates, as well as unauthorized flights over Sierra Leonean territory.

As a result, each of the four crew members was required to pay a fine of $100,000 (One hundred thousand United States dollars) before their release and that of the aircraft. On October 14, 2024, the accused, through their legal representatives, paid the imposed fine into the Consolidated Fund.

With this payment, all individuals connected to the incident have been released, and the aircraft is no longer in police custody.

The matter is now considered closed by the authorities, marking the end of a significant incident in Sierra Leone’s aviation history.