Kenya Airways flight diverted to Stansted after security threat
National
By
Brian Ngugi
| Oct 12, 2023
A British fighter jet intercepted a Kenya Airways (KQ) plane flying from Nairobi to London on Thursday, amid a security scare.
The plane was diverted to Stansted Airport, a designated airport for handling security issues in the UK.
The Royal Air Force fighter jet, which was deployed from a nearby military base in London, escorted the Kenya Airways 787 aircraft as it was approaching London Heathrow Airport.
Kenya Airways said it received an alert of a potential security threat on board the flight, which had departed from Nairobi at 09:18 local time, following a 13-minute delay.
"Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) confirms that on Thursday, 12 October 2023, at around 10:30hrs, KQ Headquarters received an alert of a potential security threat on board KQ100 operating from Nairobi to London Heathrow," the airline said in a statement.
It added that it carried out a thorough risk assessment of the threat with the security authorities of Kenya and the UK, and took all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of the crew and passengers.
"The crew onboard were briefed, and all safety and security precautions were taken to ensure the safety and security of our crew and/passengers on board," the statement said.
"The aircraft landed safely at Stansted Airport, London for security clearance by UK government security personnel. The safety and security of our crew and customers is our number one priority."
Photos posted online showed elite bomb disposal units near the plane on the ground.
Essex Police confirmed the incident on X (formerly Twitter) but did not provide further details. "A flight travelling from Nairobi to Heathrow was diverted to Stansted this afternoon," the police said.
Stansted Airport is located in the northeastern region of Central London, England. It is the designated airport in the UK for handling security issues, as it allows for the swift deployment of crucial resources and the isolation of potential risks.
British media reported the aircraft "was searched by investigators. The plane was then moved to a docking station to allow passengers to disembark," said one report.