Following public anxiety sparked by the sight of smoke from an aircraft and simulated explosions at Moi International Airport, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has moved to clarify that the alarming scenes formed part of a planned emergency exercise held on Wednesday.

In a statement issued shortly after the drill, KAA confirmed that the events witnessed were part of a full-scale safety and security emergency simulation designed to test the airport’s crisis readiness.

“Moi International Airport (MIA), Mombasa today successfully conducted a Full Scale Safety and Security Emergency exercise, designed to test and reinforce the airport's emergency preparedness and response capabilities,” KAA stated.

The first scenario involved an aircraft aborting takeoff after smoke was detected in the cabin.

Emergency crews were seen rushing to the scene as passengers were evacuated and responders treated ‘injuries’, all of which were part of a scripted safety test.

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The second incident simulated a sabotage threat, involving two controlled explosions at the General Aviation Terminal.

This scenario aimed to assess how airport personnel and various agencies would handle bomb threats, evacuations, and medical emergencies under pressure.

Despite being fully staged, the scale and realism of the exercises understandably caused concern among bystanders.

KAA, however, reassured the public that there was never any real danger.

"The incident was entirely simulated and posed no danger to passengers, crew members, or airport operations. The safety and security of all participants were strictly observed throughout the exercise," the authority reiterated.

The Authority further explained that such simulations are not only necessary but are internationally mandated.

“As mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and mandated Kenya Civil Aviation Regulations, airports are required to conduct such full-scale emergency drills at least once every two years to evaluate their emergency response capabilities.”

The drills involved multiple teams including airport security, emergency medical personnel, fire and rescue services, and airline representatives.

According to KAA, their objective was to ensure effective coordination in real-world crisis conditions.

“The drills were part of KAA's continued commitment to strengthening airport emergency preparedness and ensuring world-class safety and security standards.”

While the scenes may have raised alarm, the Authority maintained that this level of preparedness is essential for ensuring the safety of passengers and the reliability of Kenya’s aviation infrastructure.