A safety drill conducted by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) at Moi International Airport in Mombasa on Wednesday sparked brief panic among some airport users.
Caught unaware, some passengers were seen dashing for safety.
KAA later posted on its official X account, stating that emergency teams were responding to an “incident involving an aircraft,” and assured the public that the situation was under control.
“Airport emergency services are currently responding to an incident involving an aircraft at Moi Intl. Airport. The situation is being managed by first responders,” KAA said.
“We will provide further details as soon as they are confirmed. Please monitor this account for official updates.”
The authority added that airport operations remained normal and unaffected.
KAA later clarified that the emergency response was part of a scheduled full-scale drill.
“We would like to confirm that the emergency response at Moi International Airport was part of a full-scale emergency drill,” the statement read.
“The exercise was part of our commitment to maintaining the highest safety and security standards at our airports.”
Airport emergency drills are simulated exercises designed to test the preparedness and coordination of various teams in responding to potential crises such as aircraft accidents, fires, medical emergencies, bomb threats, or security breaches.
The exercises are a routine requirement by international aviation bodies, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and are carried out regularly in airports around the world.
They aim to ensure that all relevant parties, including fire and rescue teams, medical personnel, security, airline staff, and airport authorities, can respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies.
While these drills are necessary, they are not always communicated to the public in advance to maintain realism.
This can sometimes cause alarm among passengers and airport staff.
