UNIFICATION CITY, Margibi – Authorities at the Roberts International Airport have denied reports that screening machines at the airport are often dysfunctional due to constant power outage.

Recently, a passenger who traveled to Liberia through the airport reported that all x-ray machines were down because of a power outage. Florence Aikins reported on social media that items of luggage were only being checked manually.

“Only Brussels and UNMIL machines were working,” she wrote.

Further confirming Aikins’ account, a source working at RIA who spoke to The Bush Chicken on condition of anonymity said the airport was in total darkness for nearly 40 minutes around 2:00 a.m. this past Sunday.

“Passengers and crew were lingering in the dark,” the source said.

The Bush Chicken requested to tour the airport and independently view the screening machines; however, the request was turned down by the airport’s management.

RIA Public Relations Officer Ebenezer Wilson said the management could not grant the request due to ongoing construction at the airport, even though the request pertained to areas frequented by passengers.

Passenger screening point at RIA. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

“We regret that we can’t grant you access to our facilities now due to ongoing construction works of the New Terminal complex and the Active Runway,” Wilson said. “Sometime in the future, when these works are completed, we will be more than glad to take you on a tour.”

He also said there had been no power outages at the airport.

“There has not been any as of the date you mentioned, not before and or after. We have a stable power system,” he wrote in an email.

The management of the Liberia Airport Authority also said in a release on Tuesday that contrary to reports, all screening or x-ray machines at the airport are functional.

“Management sees the functioning of screening machines [as] an integral part of the airport’s operations and routine servicing and maintenance have been the order of the day,” it said. “With trained, efficient and effective Navigational Aids and Communications Staff, x-ray machines and all other navigational equipment are monitored and checked for possible breakdown and instant repairs are routinely carried out.”

The management added that screening passenger luggage and cargo using the x-ray machines is a pre-requisite for their acceptance by the airlines operating at the airport.

“Additionally, it is a requirement of some airlines to have bags double checked using both machines and physical verification. This does not mean that screening machines are down,” it added.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah