The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed that all passengers and crew aboard a domestic flight that experienced a runway excursion at Mandera Airstrip were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.
In a statement on Friday, the authority said the aircraft, which was operating a scheduled domestic service from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), veered off the runway during landing earlier in the morning.
The aircraft was carrying 32 passengers and four crew members at the time of the incident.
“The aircraft, carrying 32 passengers and 4 crew members, veered off the runway during landing at approximately 0910 hours local time and came to a stop at the airstrip's perimeter fence," the authority said.
Following the incident, emergency response procedures were immediately activated, with ground personnel moving to evacuate all occupants.
KAA noted that passengers and crew were safely assisted out of the aircraft and provided with necessary ground support.
"Passengers and crew were safely evacuated, and appropriate ground support was immediately provided. There were no injuries reported to the passengers or crew,” the authority stated.
Despite the incident, KAA moved to reassure the public of its commitment to aviation safety across all its facilities in the country.
“The Authority reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, security, and operational excellence across all its facilities,” the statement added.
Earlier in the morning, there was panic and alarm when the commercial passenger plane on the Nairobi–Mandera route veered off the runway and ended up in surrounding vegetation at the Mandera Airstrip.
The incident triggered an emergency response, with all passengers and crew safely evacuated, police at the scene said.
Officials and witnesses said the aircraft lost control moments after touching down at the Mandera County airstrip.
Emergency response teams moved swiftly to retrieve passengers from the aircraft before securing the scene.
No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.
Investigators have launched a probe to determine whether mechanical failure or adverse weather conditions caused the runway excursion, with no official cause yet established.
A team has visited the scene and secured it as investigations continue.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!