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Aircraft Veers Off Runway in Nairobi After Hard Landing; All Safe

A domestic aircraft experienced a hard landing and veered off the runway upon arrival at Nairobi's Wilson Airport. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed all 39 passengers and crew on board were safe with no injuries reported. Emergency procedures were activated immediately, and the area has been cordoned off for an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigations Department. The incident follows recent flight delays at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to a separate labour dispute.

Key Points: Kenya Plane Hard Landing at Wilson Airport, No Injuries

  • Hard landing at Wilson Airport
  • Aircraft veered off runway
  • All 39 passengers safe
  • Emergency response activated
  • Official investigation launched
2 min read

Kenya: Hard landing forces aircraft off runway at Wilson Airport; no injuries reported

A domestic flight from Kisumu veered off the runway at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, after a hard landing. All 39 passengers and crew are safe, investigation underway.

"We are pleased to confirm that no injuries have been reported. - Kenya Civil Aviation Authority"

Nairobi, March 21

An aircraft operating a scheduled domestic flight in Kenya veered off the runway after a hard landing at Wilson Airport on Friday night, though all passengers and crew were reported safe, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority press statement.

In the press statement issued on Saturday (March 21), the aviation regulator said the aircraft, registration 5Y-BXI, was operating a scheduled flight from Kisumu to the Nairobi airport when the incident occurred at approximately 9:25 pm (local time) on Friday (March 20).

"An aircraft, registration number 5Y-BXI, operating a scheduled flight from Kisumu to Wilson Airport, experienced a hard landing upon arrival and subsequently veered off the runway," the authority said.

According to the regulator, 39 passengers were on board at the time of the incident. "There were 39 passengers on board at the time of the incident," the authority said. "We are pleased to confirm that no injuries have been reported," the authority added.

According to the press statement, emergency response procedures were immediately activated after the aircraft left the runway, and the plane has since been secured. The area around the aircraft, according to the press statement, has been cordoned off to allow investigators to examine the site.

The statement said the Aircraft Accident Investigations Department (AAID) will investigate in line with aviation safety protocols.

The aviation authority said it is working with relevant agencies to ensure all necessary measures are taken while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining aviation safety and regulatory standards.

Earlier in February, the Kenya Airports Authority informed the public about the delays affecting departing flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) due to an ongoing labour dispute.

In a press statement issued by Kenya Airports Authority on February 16, KAA said the delays stem from a dispute between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

"Kenya Airport Authorriy inform the public of delays affecting departing flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to ongoing labour dispute between Kenya Aviation Workers Union and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority," the Authority said in the statement.

KAA assured passengers that measures have been implemented to manage the situation and minimise disruption.

"Contingency plans have been activated. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for scheduled updates," the Authority said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Safety first, always. Good to see the emergency response was activated immediately. But reading about the labour disputes at JKIA in February alongside this... makes one wonder about systemic issues. Authorities need to ensure these two aren't connected in any way.
D
David E
As someone who flies frequently in Africa for work, this is concerning. Wilson is a busy domestic hub. A thorough, transparent investigation is needed to maintain passenger confidence. Glad everyone is safe.
A
Anjali F
The real heroes are the crew who ensured all 39 passengers got out safely. Must have been a very scary experience for everyone on board. Thoughts with them.
K
Karthik V
This is why I always pay a bit extra for travel insurance, yaar. You never know. Thankfully it wasn't needed this time as there were no injuries. The aviation authority's statement seems prompt, which is good.
S
Sarah B
While the immediate response seems adequate, the mention of recent labour disputes is a red flag. Employee morale and working conditions are directly linked to safety. Hope the investigation looks into that angle as well, not just the technical fault.

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