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.
