An aircraft incident involving a domestic flight occurred on
Monday afternoon at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), with all
passengers and crew safely accounted for, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)
has confirmed.
In a statement on December 29, KAA said the
aircraft, which was arriving in Nairobi from Elwak airstrip in Mandera County,
veered off Taxiway Echo shortly after landing at the country’s busiest airport.
The flight was carrying 50 passengers at the time of the
incident.
“Kenya Airports Authority wishes to inform the public of an
aircraft incident that occurred this afternoon at Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport (JKIA),” the statement read.
According to the authority, emergency response teams were
immediately activated in line with established airport safety procedures.
KAA emphasized that the situation was swiftly brought under
control and that there were no injuries reported.
“All passengers and crew were safely accounted for,” the
authority said.
KAA further assured travelers and the general public that
airport operations were not disrupted by the incident and continued as normal
despite the temporary presence of the aircraft off the taxiway.
“Airport emergency response teams have been activated in
line with established procedures,” the statement noted, adding that, “Airport
operations remain normal.”
The authority said it is working closely with relevant
aviation agencies to ensure the safe removal of the aircraft from the affected
area, as investigations into the incident continue.
“The Authority is working closely with the relevant aviation
agencies to ensure the safe removal of the aircraft,” KAA said.
While KAA did not disclose the cause of the incident,
aviation sources note that veering off taxiways can occur due to a range of
factors, including weather conditions, mechanical issues, or human error.
Such incidents are typically subject to standard
investigations by aviation safety regulators.
In its statement, KAA reiterated its commitment to
maintaining high safety and operational standards across all airports under its
management.
“Kenya Airports Authority reassures the public of its
continued commitment to the safety, security, and efficiency of airport
operations,” the statement said.
JKIA is East Africa’s largest aviation hub, handling
millions of passengers annually and serving as a key gateway for regional and
international travel.
The incident comes amid heightened focus on aviation safety
as passenger traffic increases during the holiday travel period.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates once the
aircraft is removed and preliminary findings are available.
