UK Military Intercepts Kenya Airways Plane After Detecting Security Threat Mid-Air

A Kenya Airways flight heading to London Heathrow from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was intercepted by United Kingdom (UK) military aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF).

According to reports, the plane which was to land at Heathrow on Thursday morning, October 12 was instead diverted to London Stansted Airport.

Kenya Airways responded to the interception by revealing that its headquarters received an alert of a potential security threat aboard the affected plane, KQ100.

"Kenya Airways PLC ("KQ") confirms that on Thursday, 12th 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.

Emergency vehicles at the London Stansted Airport where a Kenya Airways plane was intercepted on October 12, 2023. /PLANE AUDITS

"KQ management in conjunction with the security authorities of the Government of Kenya and the United Kingdom carried out a thorough risk assessment of the threat. 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," stated KQ in a press release shared on its social media pages.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, landed safely at Stansted Airport, for security clearance by UK government security personnel.

KQ maintained that they prioritise the safety of their customers. 

The Daily Mail first reported that heavy police presence as well as that of emergency first responders surrounded Stansted Airport, with a section of UK media also reporting that a bomb squad were also at the scene.

"Queues are beginning to form at Stansted as flights are being held due to this developing incident. No official confirmation as of yet, but nothing is going in or out of Stansted at this time," read the report by aviation news site Aviation Source.

Essex police also confirmed the incident maintaining that they were attending to the security concern.

"We are currently attending an incident at Stansted Airport. A flight travelling from Nairobi to Heathrow was diverted to Stansted this afternoon. The airport remains open." the police stated.

The aircraft was reported to have landed safely and was escorted to a remote stand with Essex Police in attendance. It was searched by investigators and then moved to a docking station to allow passengers to disembark.

The flight was reportedly intercepted by RAF fighter jets from its quick response alert. The large emergency services presence included eight crews from the fire service, while the airport was open and flights were operating as normal.

One woman posted on Facebook: "On a flight this morning from Nairobi to London Heathrow. 45 minutes before we were due to land, we were told that we'd been diverted to Stansted. When we arrived in Stansted, loads of police cars."

"We’ve been surrounded by all the police. They've all got guns all dressed in black and are ID-ing us. Captain hasn’t even said anything."

It was not immediately established what triggered the major security alert, coming just three days after KQ confirmed a medical emergency declared after a passenger was taken ill.

In a statement, KQ revealed that the incident occurred at approximately 2.19 pm which forced the captain to declare a medical emergency with Air Traffic Control (ATC).

This enabled the flight to get a priority landing so that the passenger who was taken ill could receive medical attention.

"The crew on board assisted by two medical doctors and a nurse provided medical assistance to the passenger as the Captain declared a medical emergency with Air Traffic Control (ATC) so that the flight could get an expedited landing for the passenger to receive further medical attention," the statement read in part.

Kenya Airways plane intercepted by UK military parked at the Stansted Airport in London on October 12, 2023. /PLANE AUDITS