Claim: Police Impound Unauthorized Plane at Lungi Airport
Verdict: TRUE
Context: Reports have surfaced on multiple local news platforms regarding the impounding of an aircraft at Lungi International Airport by the Sierra Leone Police. According to at least two media outlets, the plane landed without prior approval from the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), raising security concerns and prompting immediate action from law enforcement.
This incident led to significant public interest, as questions were raised about the flight's origin, purpose and why it lacked the necessary clearances to land at Sierra Leone's primary international gateway. To verify these claims, a fact check was conducted.
Evidence: Sierra Check contacted the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) for clarification on the circulating reports. The SLCAA confirmed the claim as accurate and issued a press statement dated 20th September 2024, detailing the incident.
According to their statement, the unauthorized plane landed at Lungi Airport just six minutes before midnight on Thursday, without any prior approval from the relevant aviation authorities.
There were four passengers on board the aircraft at the time. Due to the absence of a valid landing permit, authorities immediately launched an investigation into the matter.
The aircraft has since been impounded, and all passengers are being questioned by the police to understand the circumstances surrounding this unauthorized flight. The SLCAA, working closely with the Sierra Leone Police, assured that the aircraft has been secured and that ongoing investigations aim to uncover further details about its unauthorized entry into Sierra Leonean airspace.
Conclusion: Based on the firsthand information provided by the SLCAA plus their press statement which they authenticated, the claim that an unauthorized aircraft was impounded at Lungi Airport is verified as true.
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