It Was Normal- KCAA Clarifies Pilot's Move That Prevented Collision At JKIA
Furthermore, KCAA assured that at no time was the safety of the KQ aircraft and persons on board in jeopardy.
admin
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has allayed fears of a near-disaster incident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday, September 8, 2023, after a Kenya Airways pilot made a decisive move to avoid a major tragedy.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 13, KCAA stated that it was alert to the situation involving flight KQ101 which was returning to Nairobi from London's Heathrow Airport.
As per data from FlightRadar24, at 05:15 on the morning of September 8, KQ101 from London initiated what KCAA termed as a go-around at 5,375 feet at about 3,800 feet before the runway threshold.
"In the last few days, alarming information has been circulating in social media alleging that there was a near-disaster incident involving KQ flight number KQ101 from London, Heathrow.
Image of a Kenya Airways aircraft landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. /FILE
"The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) was alive to the situation involving Kenya Airways B787 Dreamliner aircraft flight number KQA101 from London Heathrow on 8th September 2023 while approaching to land at JKIA," stated KCAA in part.
The Authority argued that the go-around by the national airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft was a normal procedure when the runway in use was not available for landing.
Furthermore, KCAA assured that at no time was the safety of the KQ aircraft and persons on board in jeopardy.
"The Authority endeavours to ensure the safety and security of the flying public, property, and operations remain paramount," added KCAA.
What Is A Go-Around?
A go-around occurs when an aircrew makes the decision not to continue an approach, or not to continue a landing, and follows procedures to conduct another approach or to divert to another airport.
Go-arounds can happen at any point from the final approach fix to wheels on the runway (but prior to any deceleration device being activated - e.g. brakes, spoilers, thrust reversers).
The statement comes after Moina Spooner a journalist with The Conversation who was on board shared what she termed as a frightening experience on her way to landing at JKIA.
"Been debating whether to post this, but thought it was important to because something went very wrong at JKIA this morning.
"Our plane was landing and close to touchdown (we could see the runway and buildings alongside it) it took off at a very sharp angle," she shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The pilot thereafter explained that the landing was aborted as the other plane was on the runway, in the process of a take-off just as the KQ plane was landing.
She blamed the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) over the incident which could have had devastating results, but appreciated the KQ pilot for his reactionary instincts in keeping the passengers safe in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with a capacity of 234.
Spooner further called for investigations to be carried out on the issue with a view to preventing such incidences from occurring in the future.
"After the plane was high enough and levelled out, the pilot informed us that he had to because there was another plane on the runway. Kenya Airports this could have ended really badly - and clearly something went wrong.
"Kenya Airways I am so grateful to your pilot for his quick thinking, for keeping us safe and calm. I hope this situation gets fully investigated and addressed. We can't wait for a tragedy to happen before there's action," she called.
The incident sparked outrage from Kenyans who demanded an explanation from the management of the international airport, considered the largest and busiest airport in East Africa that handles hundreds of local and international flights daily.
Questions were asked regarding how two planes could be on the runway at once, with Flight Control pressed to explain its role in the confusion and the actions it took to rectify the situation.
