Passengers stranded in Athens as Greece declines to clear KQ flight

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: Passengers aboard Kenya Airways flight that was diverted to Athens following a fire warning are still stranded after Greece Civil Aviation declined to clear plane to leave.

In a statement issued on Monday, KQ said that the flight was scheduled to depart on Sunday at 9pm but was cancelled at the last minute. 

“This follows the denial of clearance by the Greece Civil Aviation in spite of approval by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the manufacturers, Boeing, for reasons yet to be officially communicated,” KQ Chief Operating Officer Mbuvi Nguze said

He however said the airline was making arrangement to fly the 301 passengers into Kenya.

“We have an aircraft in Nairobi ready, and crew is on hand awaiting regulatory clearance to commence the mission,” Nguze said.

The plane was diverted to Athens on Saturday for an emergency landing after a fire warning indication in one of the cargo hold.

The passengers were set to arrive in Nairobi on Monday at 4.30am from Amsterdam.

In a press statement to newsrooms over the weekend, Ngunze said that the spare required to repair the landing gear door was set to arrive from Amsterdam at 16.20 hours local time Sunday.

“According to our engineering team on the ground, it will take two hours to finalise the repairs,” he explained.

He added: “Once the testing is completed, it will take another two hours to prepare the aircraft for departure. The revised estimated departure time is 21.30 hours (same time zone as East Africa) from Athens with estimated arrival time in Nairobi at 0430 hours Monday 8th July.”

The plane hitch caused fury among passengers, who protested the manner in which they were treated by the airline.

Even though KQ management stated that they had taken care of all the passengers and crews in booking for them hotels, the passengers expressed disappointment through social media.