By Isha S. Mansaray; Liberty Online TV.

The government of Sierra Leone fines foreign crew members $100,000 for unauthorized landing of an aircraft.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education issued a press statement announcing theU conclusion of the government’s investigation into the unauthorized aircraft landing. 

On September 20, 2024, the unscheduled plane, carrying four crew members, three Mexicans and one Hispania, landed at Freetown International Airport.

In order to carry out a thorough investigation, the state security services were ordered to confiscate the aforementioned aircraft.
Investigative findings revealed that “nothing of police interest was found in the aircraft,” as the government claims the probe is finished.

However, the crew members were found liable in violation of the Civil Aviation Act of 2023 for operating an aircraft in Sierra Leone without an Air Operating Certificate, flying an aircraft over the country’s territory without authorisation, and serving in an aircraft without a personnel certificate. Due to their unauthorised aircraft arrival at Freetown International Airport, all four crew members have been fined $100,000.

The press statement concludes that there wasn’t enough proof to bring charges against the two air controllers who were on duty when the unscheduled landing occurred.