Unauthorized Landing at Freetown Airport: Four Detained, Investigations Ongoing
Deborah Sorie The government of Sierra Leone has released an update on investigations following an incident whereby a mysterious aircraft made a surprise landing at the Freetown International Airport on Friday, September 20.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education said the 14-seater plane, which was flying from Liberia to Mexico, had not sought permission to land and was using a fake registration number.
Four individuals, including the pilot, were found on board. Three of them are Mexican nationals, while the fourth holds a Spanish passport. The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), security forces, and the Office of National Security have launched a joint investigation into the incident.
Initial findings indicate that the aircraft did not depart from any recognized airfield in Liberia and had not contacted air traffic control before landing. Additionally, the crew members refused to cooperate with authorities and provided conflicting accounts of the incident.
The pilot, who initially claimed to not speak English, later admitted to being paid $20,000 to fly the plane from Liberia to Mexico. A thorough search of the aircraft revealed no suspicious items.
Six people, including the four individuals found on the plane and two air traffic controllers, are currently under investigation. The aircraft has been impounded, and security personnel are guarding the scene.
The SLCAA is preparing a technical report on the incident and will provide more details to the public in the coming days. The Ministry of Information and Civic Education has assured the public that the airport remains safe for normal operations.
Good job
Thanks for the update on this aircraft
Great Sierra Leone is no dumping ground.
I am glad you keep to promise that you will give update on the findings
Hmmmm oooooo salon 🤔🤔🤔🤔
They may be drug dealers. Mexico is renown for drug trafficking, trust me.
Good job? Sidom saful!! Trust me, this is a gimmick. Come back in a few weeks to tell me that palms have been greased and nothing of substance found in the plane. Then the plane was mysteriously released to the pilot.
Case Close. The cartels have money and will spare nothing to see to it that their nefarious projects go through. Sooner, rather than later someone the government to be named. If this government is sincere and wants to get to bottom of this, it should request the assistance of a certain branch of the US government. That branch has the tools to do it.
Hmmm this brings me back to the unknown helicopter issue in Waterloo. Just after that, a coup attempt was made. The present administration should not take this lightly for the sake of our people regardless of politics. There are many soldiers of fortune out thre in the world working with people and willing to die for money. A word for the wise
I admire the government on this one.
I hope we the Masses would have the full story of this flight but hmm ooh Salone 🙏🙏
Good job papa Government, keep it up