The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has announced the closure of a runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a statement on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the Kenya Airports Authority noted that the runway had been closed due to an aircraft incident.
However, KAA assured the country and other concerned stakeholders that no injuries were recorded during the incident.
Further, the Airports Authority added that the plane involved in the incident is being removed from the runway before the resumption of normal services.
Moreover, the authority apologised for the inconveniences caused by the incident at Kenya’s international airport, JKIA.
“An aircraft Incident has caused runway closure at JKIA. No injuries have been reported. Removal of the aircraft is underway,” Kenya Airports Authority’s statement read in part.
” We apologize for any inconvenience caused and will provide updates shortly,” it added.
🚨PASSENGER NOTICE 🚨: An aircraft Incident has caused runway closure at JKIA. No injuries have been reported. Removal of the aircraft is underway. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and will provide updates shortly.
— Kenya Airports Authority (@KenyaAirports) June 11, 2024
KAA vowed to explain the cause of the incident while pleading with the concerned passengers to remain patient.
In another statement, KAA announced that the plane which had caused the runway to be blocked had been removed allowing the operations to resume as normal.
The regulatory authority appreciated the passengers for their patience following the incident. However, in the statement, they did not give more details about what had transpired.
“The disabled aircraft has been recovered from the runway, and normal airport operations have resumed. Thank you for your patience and cooperation,” KAA noted.
Kenya Airways Explanations
Kenya Airways has however given a full breakdown of what transpired in the afternoon incident.
“Kenya Airways confirms that on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, our operations control team received a report from the Sharjah Airport Authorities that there was tyre debris on the runway suspected to be from one of our aircraft, a Boeing 737 Freighter, on a routine operation from Sharjah to Juba,” the statement read in part.
“Upon receiving this report, our operations control team diverted the aircraft to Nairobi instead of proceeding to Juba. Upon arrival in Nairobi, the aircraft did an overflight, and our team ascertained that the aircraft had adequate wheels for a safe landing as only one out of six wheels was damaged.
“The aircraft touched down safely at 12:55 p.m. local time, but while breaking and slowing down, one of the other tyres failed, which made the aircraft immobilized on the Runway. Kenya Airways, in close collaboration with the airport authority and regulator KCAA, diligently worked to replace the tyres and tow the aircraft to safety. The aircraft was successfully towed from the runway at 2:12 p.m.”
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