Advertisement
Kenya Airways plane forced to return to Nairobi after failing to land twice
15th February, 2026 04:49 PM
A Kenya Airways plane was forced to return to Nairobi after failing twice to land at Kigali International Airport due to low visibility.
In a statement on X, Kenya Airways on Sunday, February 15, 2026, confirmed that flight KQ470, operating from Nairobi to Kigali, encountered deteriorating weather during its approach, prompting the crew to turn back for the safety of passengers and staff.
“FLIGHT TURNED BACK TO NAIROBI DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) confirms that on 15 February 2026, at approximately 09:10 hrs (East African Time), KQ 470,” Kenya Airways said.
According to Kenya Airways, the flight departed Nairobi at approximately 9:10 am East African Time. During its approach to Kigali, the aircraft attempted to land twice but could not safely reach the runway because of poor visibility.
The airline said the decision to return to Nairobi was a standard safety precaution and emphasised that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority.
Kenya Airways reported that KQ470 landed safely at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 10:39 am. Once weather conditions in Kigali improved, Kenya Airways cleared the flight to depart again at 12:07 pm, and it landed safely at 1:31 pm.
The airline described this air turnback as a routine safety procedure, highlighting its commitment to operational safety even when disruptions occur.
Ripple effect on other flights
The incident affected other flights. Kenya Airways noted that flight KQ270 from Nairobi to Mauritius, originally scheduled to depart at 12:40 pm, was rescheduled to 4:00 pm due to the turnaround of KQ470.
The airline said it had contacted affected passengers directly and provided assistance to minimise inconvenience, reaffirming its customer service focus.
In its statement, Kenya Airways reiterated that all operational decisions during the incident were made with safety as the overriding priority.
The airline apologised for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their patience, emphasising that safety will always come before schedule.
“We sincerely apologise to our guests for the inconvenience and assure our customers that their safety and that of our crew are our highest priorities,” Kenya Airways added.
Kenya Airways added that air turnbacks are common in commercial aviation, especially when weather conditions deteriorate unexpectedly at the destination.
Author
William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
View all posts by William Muthama
