Fog disrupts KQ flights, forces diversions

Kenya Airways plane at JKIA. [Courtesy]

Two Kenya Airways regional flights were temporarily diverted on Sunday morning after thick fog disrupted landing operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

In a statement, the airline said flight KQ739 from Lilongwe, Malawi, and KQ709 from Harare, Zimbabwe, were redirected to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania due to reduced visibility at JKIA.

“We confirm that earlier this morning two of our flights were diverted due to fog affecting visibility on approach to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport runway,” Kenya Airways said in a statement.

According to the airline, the diversions were temporary and both aircraft later returned safely to Nairobi after weather conditions improved.

“Following improvement in weather conditions and visibility in Nairobi, both flights  safely returned and landed at JKIA,” the statement added.

Fog-related disruptions are common at JKIA during cold seasons and early morning hours, particularly between April and July when Nairobi experiences lower temperatures and changing weather patterns.

Reduced visibility can affect aircraft landing and take-off operations, forcing airlines and air traffic controllers to delay or divert flights in line with aviation safety procedures.