AYV News, September 24, 2024
The Government of Sierra Leone has announced that two Sierra Leonean Air Traffic Controllers are among the six people currently detained by the Sierra Leone Police over investigations on the illegal Aircraft that landed at the Freetown International Airport past weekend.
The government said the illegal aircraft did not fly from any recognised airfield in Liberia and that it did not have a landing permit, did not contact the Air Traffic Controller at FNA before landing and was flying under a fake registration number with the parts of the registration number seemingly scratched off.
The Crew claimed they had radio failure before landing, a technical inspection revealed that the radio was working. Crew members also refused to submit their documents to Sierra Leonean officials despite officials repeatedly asking.
The government say the Flight Captain who claimed he does not speak English, later spoke English and revealed that he was paid $20,000 to do the trip from Liberia to Mexico.
After a thorough search, police found nothing suspicious on the flight. All four people found on the aircraft have now been handed over to the Sierra Leone Police for further investigations.
The aircraft has been closed and the keys handed over to the Office of National Security, whiles police and army personnel are guarding the aircraft.
The fourteen-seater aircraft made an unauthorised landing at Freetown International Airport past Friday flying from Liberia to Mexico.
Airport authorities immediately mobilised and started investigations on the aircraft. Four people were found on board, including the captain. Three of those found are Mexican nationals and the fourth carries a Spanish passport.
The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, security forces and the Office of National Security have since taken over the technical and security investigations.
