The United States Embassy in Freetown has issued a statement to clarify the presence of a U.S. Air Force plane that landed at Freetown International Airport on Sunday. This announcement comes in response to widespread public speculation and misinformation regarding the aircraft's purpose in Sierra Leone.

In an official tweet, the Embassy stated: "We are aware of some misinformation about a U.S. Air Force plane that was seen landing at Lungi Airport. A plane landed for routine refueling, and promptly left Sierra Leone. Rumors of the plane landing in Sierra Leone for any other purpose are false."

Despite this clear explanation, the aircraft's brief stay at the airport generated significant curiosity and speculation. Social media platforms buzzed with various theories, with some users suggesting that the landing was merely for refueling, while others conjectured it might be linked to recent political developments in the country.

Further details emerged from the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), which confirmed that it had received an application from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a landing permit for the U.S. military aircraft. The stated purpose of this request was explicitly for refueling.

On June 21st, the SLCAA forwarded the request to the Office of National Security (ONS) to obtain the necessary security clearance, which was promptly granted. SLCAA Director General Madame Musayeroh Barrie affirmed that the aircraft landed as scheduled and completed its refueling operation without any issues.

This incident highlights the sensitivity and public interest surrounding military activities, even those as routine as refueling, and underscores the importance of transparent communication from both local and international authorities to prevent the spread of misinformation.