By Alhaji MB Jalloh
Royal Air Maroc nearly caught fire 30 minutes after take-off on Friday, 23rd September, 2022 from Lungi International Airport (FNA) to Casablanca.
The pilots were forced to make an emergency landing at Monrovia’s Roberts International Airport.
The Boeing 737 – 800 aircraft took off at 5:30 am and encountered technical problems less than an hour into the journey. That sent the passengers into a panic, with some screaming and others praying.
All the passengers on board landed safely and no injuries were reported.
Aircraft maintenance technicians in Monrovia were able to fix the problem and the aircraft continued its journey. Five hours later, it landed safely at Terminal 2 of the Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca in the early afternoon.
After landing, a senior airline staff reportedly told the passengers that: “This type of incident is extremely rare, adding, Royal Air Maroc crews are regularly trained to manage such abnormal situations.”
The newly posted Royal Air Maroc Country Manager in Freetown who was also in the flight could not be reached to talk on the incident; as his telephone lines were all switched off. But a local staff at the airline’s Wilkinson Road Office in the West End of Freetown who preferred anonymity says the airline regrets any inconvenience the incident caused to its passengers and assures the travelling public of its full commitment to safety of its passengers.
