A Kenya Airways plane. The airline refuted claims that the KQ221 plane was diverted because it ran short of fuel. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
The aircraft that was to land in Nairobi developed a mechanical fault in the fuel control system and had to be diverted to the Moi International Airport, according to a statement by the airline.
The firm refuted claims that the KQ221 plane was diverted because it ran short of fuel.
A Kenya Airways plane with 38 passengers on board from New Delhi, India made an emergency landing at Moi International Airport in Mombasa on Monday after it developed a mechanical problem.
The aircraft that was to land in Nairobi developed a mechanical fault in the fuel control system and had to be diverted to the nearest airport, according to a statement by the airline.
The firm refuted claims that the KQ221 plane was diverted because it ran short of fuel.
“Although the aircraft had enough fuel, it needed to land at the nearest alternate airport,” said Mbuvi Ngunze, KQ’s chief operations officer and CEO designate.
Mr Ngunze says Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport airspace was also closed for Mashujaa day celebrations at the time the plane was to land at 12.20 pm.
Kenya Airways, said Mr Ngunze, was working to ensure all the passengers and crew arrives safely to Nairobi as soon as possible and apologised for any inconveniences caused to customers.
His statement, however, contradicted what the Moi International Airport manager Mr Yatich Kangogo said.
“The aircraft developed low fuel mid-air, with its reserves unable to cover the Nairobi distance, so it was diverted here to refuel,” Mr Kangogo said.
The safety record of an airline is a critical factor in the highly competitive aviation business.
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