Air Sierra Leone

By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

Air Sierra Leone urges Sierra Leoneans to reject the false social media claims about Air Sierra Leone’s Lagos-to-Freetown flight on May 5, 2025. A misleading X post by @LeoneIssues, with over 2,000 views, and videos shared by @232musichq, falsely suggested a dangerous emergency landing, causing unwarranted public fear. Air Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) have confirmed the incident was a routine precaution due to a false sensor alert, with no threat to passenger safety.

Air Sierra Leone’s press release detailed that the flight, operated on an Embraer ERJ-145, departed Murtala Muhammed International

Airport, Lagos, at 14:17. Ten minutes after take-off, a cockpit alert signalled a potential cargo hold issue. Following International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) protocols, the pilot returned to Lagos, landing safely at 14:35. Emergency services were on standby, as is standard at Lungi Airport and globally, per SLCAA guidelines.

SLCAA Director General Madam Musayeroh Barrie clarified, A technical check found a faulty sensor triggered a false alarm. There was no fire, smoke, or mechanical fault. The aircraft was inspected by Air Sierra Leone’s maintenance team, SLCAA, and Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority, and cleared for flight. It departed Lagos at 17:55, arriving in Freetown at 20:30 with all passengers safe, per flight logs.

Barrie addressed viral videos showing passengers disembarking, stating, this is normal during inspections. Social media twisted it to spread panic. A @Sierraloaded X post with 1,800 likes echoed public confusion, but SLCAA emphasized the crew’s professionalism met global standards. Air Sierra Leone’s safety record, bolstered since its 2024 relaunch, supports this, with regional flights to Lagos and plans for London routes by June 2025, per ch-aviation.

Misinformation, like @GleanerSierraLe’s post claiming a near-crash (1,500 likes), mirrors 2024 false reports debunked by Dubawa. Sierra Leone’s 71% ICAO security audit score in 2023, per SLCAA data, underscores its aviation reliability. Yet, a 2024 SLCAA survey noted 30% of passengers fear flying due to rumors, highlighting the damage of unverified claims.

I call on our people to trust official sources Air Sierra Leone’s website and SLCAA’s Safety is our pledge, Air Sierra Leone affirmed, a promise backed by their actions. Spreading false stories hurts our national carrier and sows fear. Contact Air Sierra Leone at +232-78-273019 or SLCAA at 21/23 Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown, for accurate updates.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 7th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)