Flights disrupted as runway lights fail at JKIA

By Cyrus Ombati and James Ratemo

Several flights were last night diverted to Mombasa after the lighting system on the runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport failed.

The anomaly, which started shortly before 7pm, saw takeoff of several local and international flights halted for hours as technicians rectified the problem.

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) officials said the problem was detected when one line failed to work.

The controller ordered flights be diverted to Moi International Airport, Mombasa. By 8.30pm no flight had taken off or landed.

Hundreds of travellers were stranded at the airport. A traveller who called our newsroom said: "Flights have been delayed and we fear our arrangements will be messed up. JKIA officials have disappointed us."

Efforts to get a comment from the KAA Corporate Communications Manager Dominic Ngige, were futile as his phone was switched off.