Plane 'crash-lands' at JKIA, rescue teams rush to scene

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)/FILE

Emergency response teams were on Thursday deployed to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following an aircraft incident prompting swift action from aviation authorities and rescue agencies.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed the incident and said emergency procedures had been activated to manage the situation.

In a notice issued shortly after the incident, KAA said it was coordinating response efforts alongside relevant agencies to ensure the safety of passengers, crew and airport operations.

"KAA is currently responding to an emergency situation at JKIA. Emergency response teams and agencies have been activated and are managing the situation in accordance with established emergency procedures," the authority said in a statement.

The authority added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

The Kenya Red Cross said its first responders had been dispatched to the scene to support ongoing rescue operations.

Other agencies involved in the response included Port Health Services and EMS Kenya ambulance services.

By the time of publication, preliminary reports indicated that no casualties had been recorded, although authorities had yet to release comprehensive details regarding the circumstances that led to the crash landing.

Emergency personnel were seen moving quickly to secure the affected aircraft and assess the situation as investigations into the incident commenced.

The latest occurrence comes just weeks after another aviation incident in the country. On May 26, a plane made an emergency landing at Wilson Airport, raising fresh concerns about aviation safety despite the absence of fatalities.

It also follows an incident in March 2026 when a passenger aircraft arriving from Kisumu International Airport veered off the runway at Wilson Airport. The accident temporarily disrupted airport operations, but all 39 passengers and crew members escaped unharmed.

Following that incident, KAA reassured the public about the safety of airport operations.

KAA noted that the March incident occurred at approximately 8.55 pm and emphasised that airport operations remained normal despite the disruption.

The authority has repeatedly maintained that safety remains its top priority across all airports under its management.

"KAA remains committed to the highest standards of safety at all our airports," the agency said.