Why Kenya Airways made a week-long Mogadishu flight diversions

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya Airways (KQ) has for the first time explained the motive behind the diversion of flights from Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, following unprecedented delays that caused panic in Kenya and around the Horn of Africa.

At least four flights were either denied access at Aden Adde International Airport or canceled from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), leading to questions about the decisions to make such unprecedented moves.

In a statement, KQ noted that flight challenges were occasioned by the bad weather in Mogadishu, making it impossible for the planes to land. The strong winds in the Eastern part of the capital, Mogadishu.

"Since May 24, 2024, due to adverse weather activities over Somalia, a few of our flights into Mogadishu have experienced stronger-than-usual tailwinds that have made it impossible to safely land the aircraft," KQ said in a statement.

"As a safety precaution, our crew have opted to divert back to Nairobi, following strict safety protocols and always ensuring the comfort and safety of our customers."

KQ said its crew did not opt to use the alternative runway approach overflying the city until the Airport authorities in Mogadishu mitigated the security and safety concerns, The Star reports.

"We can confirm that the airport authorities in Mogadishu have since addressed this, and we will be able to land the aircraft safely," read the KQ statement.

"We deeply understand and regret the inconvenience these circumstances beyond our control have caused our esteemed customers. We are proactively communicating with the impacted customers."

The national carrier of the Republic of Kenya insists the safety of the passengers and the crew matters, adding that it has an obligation to ensure everyone using the corporate is secure.

"We are diligently and proactively monitoring the weather situation in Mogadishu to ensure our customers and crew's safety and comfort," KQ said. "Should you need further assistance or if your flight is impacted, kindly contact our Customer Excellence team."

Previously, there were concerns about the relationship between Kenya and Somalia, which had necessitated cancellation of flights. However, the standoff was effectively solved after President William Ruto held a meeting with his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

GAROWE ONLINE