NAIROBI: Several flights en route to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi were Sunday diverted to Moi International Airport, Mombasa after a cargo aircraft flying in from Wajir crash landed at JKIA.
A source at the Moi International Airport information desk, who wished to remain anonymous because he is not allowed to speak on behalf of Kenya Airports Authority, said three Sunday morning flights destined for JKIA had to return to Mombasa following the airport's temporary closure.
Passengers leaving for Nairobi after the long December holiday could be seen whiling away time at the airport's cafeterias while those who had checked in had to wait before their flights could be cleared for take off.
"I was expecting to pick up a group of travellers arriving from Nairobi. They have called to say there is delay occasioned by blocking of the runway and will only take off once it is cleared. I have been forced to wait," Andrew Keli, a taxi driver who does shuttle services between Moi airport and Mombasa town said.
Skyward, the owner of the il-fated plane, explained that the Fokker 27 Mark 50 Aircraft registration 5Y – SIB, was flying from Wajir to Nairobi and had originated from Somalia when it hit Marabou storks in Wajir.
"Shortly after takeoff in Wajir at 0940 hours, the aircraft hit two birds (marabou storks) above the runway in Wajir. The crew felt a thud but did not realise that the bird remained wedged in the left main landing gear doors," Skyward said.
The firm continued: "On approaching Nairobi Wilson Airport and extending the landing gear, the nose wheel and the right main landing gear extended; but the left main landing gear did not extend as its door was wedged shut by the remains of the bird. After extensive trouble shooting and use of the emergency gear extension to lower the gear, the crew realised that nothing could lower the left main landing gear."
It is at that point that the crew in conjunction with the airport authorities, decided to burn as much fuel as possible and undertake a belly landing at JKIA as landing with only two gears extended would be catastrophic.
In a statement, Skyward Director Emil Arao said: "Our very experienced crew performed a very difficult maneuvre and undertook a successful belly landing on JKIA's runway 06 at 1102 hours local time with no injuries to anyone both in the aircraft and on the ground".
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join