The pilot of the Kenya Airways plane KQ100 that was diverted midair by the United Kingdom (UK) government Captain Denis Muya has narrated the scary ordeal.
Speaking during a ceremony held by Kenya Airways at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to congratulate him for leading the team back home safely, Captain Muya stated that he would never forget the events of that day.
Further, he recounted that he was told by operators that instructions had come from the government of the United Kingdom, directing him to divert the plane to Stansted Airport.
“The famous words which we will never forget, ‘Kenya 100, I have been instructed by His Royal Majesty’s government, you are to proceed to Stansted immediately. We knew things were not right,” he stated with a light laugh.
At the same time, the crew members including the air hostesses who were present at the event reiterated Muya’s sentiments adding that they remained calm throughout the ordeal.
“We continued all the way very calm and composed. We kept going and going,” a member of the crew stated.
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Captain Muya Diverts Plane to Stansted Airport
Earlier on Thursday, October 12, Kenya Airways confirmed that the passenger plane headed to Heathrow airport in London from Nairobi was forced to land in Stansted Airport because of a security threat.
According to the statement, Kenya Airways received an alert of a potential security threat from agencies in the UK at around 1030 hours.
However, the plane landed safely allowing the UK security agencies to conduct a risk assessment including interviewing the cabin crew and passengers aboard the plane.
Also Read: KQ Plane from Nairobi Diverted After Security Threat
No Security Threat on KQ
Subsequently, on Friday, October 13, the Essex Police of UK Police issued a report noting that there was nothing of concern on board the Kenya Airways plane.
Further, the UK police noted that they conducted an intensive investigation including talking to the cabin crew and the passengers about the potential threat on board the plane.
“Officers have established there is nothing of concern on board a flight diverted to Stansted Airport. Officers carried out enquiries and established there was nothing of concern on board,” stated the report in part.