A man who survived the 1974 Lufthansa Flight 540 crash has returned to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to honour victims who perished.
The survivor, Brendon Moorhouse, was just six years old when the crash occurred.
The November 20, 1974, incident happened when the Boeing 747 jumbo jet, flying from Frankfurt to Johannesburg with a scheduled stop in Nairobi, stalled after an initial climb, crashed, and caught fire at the then Embakasi Airport, now JKIA.
The aircraft crashed and burst into flames, resulting in the first-ever fatal accident involving a Boeing 747 and one of the darkest moments in Kenya’s aviation history.
His return marks 51 years since the tragedy that forever altered Kenya’s aviation history.
The aircraft crashed and burst into flames, marking the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 747 worldwide.
Moorhouse returned to the crash site on Wednesday, accompanied by his wife and senior JKIA officials, to honour the memories of those who perished.
The solemn visit saw him lay a wreath and observe a quiet moment of reflection at the location where he was rescued as a young boy.
Airport officials walked him through the area, highlighting how the disaster became a turning point for Kenya’s aviation sector.
The 1974 crash spurred sweeping safety reforms, improved emergency response protocols, and enhanced operational standards, many of which continue to underpin JKIA’s systems today.
It was the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 747, and remains the deadliest crash in the history of Lufthansa.
According to KAA, Moorhouse described the return as deeply personal, noting that the memory of the tragedy has remained with him throughout his life.
“It is important to remember those we lost,” he said, paying homage to the families, crew, and passengers affected.
In a statement, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) reaffirmed its commitment to aviation safety.
“We remember and solemnly honour the lives lost in the Lufthansa Flight 540 disaster. Their legacy continues to guide JKIA’s pursuit of the highest safety standards," it said.
As the aircraft was making its takeoff from runway 24 at the Embakasi Airport in Nairobi, the pilots felt a buffeting vibration.
The captain continued the climb and retracted the landing gear. However, as this was being done, the aircraft started to descend, and the stall warning system light came on.
The aircraft continued to descend, and approximately 3,700 feet (1,100 m) from the end of the runway, the 747 airplane crashed into the grass.
The left wing exploded, and fire spread to the fuselage.
54 of the 139 passengers and 5 of the 18 crew members died.
The three pilots survived the accident.
The cause of the accident was determined to be a stall caused by the leading-edge slats, outboard variable camber leading-edge slats and inboard Krueger flaps, having been left in the retracted position.
Even though the trailing edge flaps were deployed, without the slats being extended, the aircraft's stall speed was higher, and the maximum angle of attack was lower.
As a result, the aircraft was unable to climb out of ground effect.
