In a major relief to air travelers and airlines operating from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the aircraft that stalled on the runway, causing significant disruption to air traffic and leading to the cancellation and delay of several flights, has finally been removed.
A technical team comprising experts from various agencies, including the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Airways and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) successfully removed the Singapore Airlines cargo aircraft B747-400 from the busy runway.
This is according to a brief statement that KCAA issued on Monday evening.
Following the successful removal of the stalled aircraft, KCAA announced that normal operations have now resumed at the airport.
"A technical team from Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Airways (KQ), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and other stakeholders worked together to safely remove the aircraft from the runway, allowing for normal operations to resume," KCAA statement read.
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Authority also revealed the cargo plane destined for Amsterdam was forced to abort takeoff due to a technical issue and as a result, 11 out of 16 of its rear tires were punctured.
KCAA further offered its apologies to entities who were adversely affected by the incident and advised passengers to contact their respective airlines to get updates on flight status.
"Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates on the status of their flights," KCAA said.
"We regret the inconvenience caused by today's incident and extend our gratitude to the technical team, airport staff, and stakeholders who worked tirelessly to resolve the incident,"
Overall, the swift action taken by the authorities to resolve the issue demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel in and out of the JKIA.