The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed a runway excursion involving an EBB Air Embraer aircraft that was arriving at Mandera Airstrip from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on April 24.
According to a statement from KAA, the aircraft, which was carrying 32 passengers and 4 crew members, veered off the runway at around 9:10 a.m. local time during landing and came to a stop at the perimeter fence of the airstrip.
“Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirms that an aircraft operating a domestic flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was involved in a runway excursion incident at Mandera Airstrip this morning,” read part of the statement.
All passengers and crew were safely evacuated, with ground support teams responding immediately. No injuries were reported, the authority confirmed.
KAA said it is working with relevant stakeholders to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, while reaffirming its commitment to safety, security, and operational standards across all its facilities.
The aircraft involved was operating a scheduled domestic service from Nairobi to Mandera.
KAA reiterated that aviation safety remains a top priority as investigations into the runway excursion continue.
Earlier, it was reported that an EBB Air Embraer aircraft, registration 5Y-EBB, flying from Nairobi to Mandera, skidded past the runway when landing and ended up in nearby bushes on Friday, April 24.
Flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed that on 24 April 2026, the EBB Air Embraer aircraft (5Y-EBB) was scheduled to depart from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi (NBO) at 6:55 AM.
No arrival or completion status was recorded for that flight at the time of the update.
Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed the EBB Air aircraft (Embraer) resting off the runway in open, bushy terrain.
EBB Air Embraer Aircraft Skids Off Runway
The plane appears to have veered off the landing surface and come to a stop in low vegetation, away from the paved runway.
Light smoke is seen rising from the aircraft’s left side, indicating friction from the impact.
Several people are seen standing nearby, observing the scene, including what it appears as emergency response team.
The cause of the incident is yet to be established.
Ruto Promises to Build Airport in Mandera
President William Ruto unveiled a series of development commitments for Northern Kenya, including plans to construct an airport in Mandera and support community and religious infrastructure projects, as he intensified his engagement with the region.
Speaking on April 18 during a thanksgiving ceremony for Banisa MP Ahmed Hassan in Mandera County, the President reaffirmed his government’s focus on fast-tracking development in areas long considered marginalized.
Also Read: Passenger Plane Crash-Lands at Wilson Airport
He stressed that Northern Kenya would be fully included in the country’s transformation agenda, assuring residents that they would not be left behind.
Ruto said Mandera is set to get an airport as part of efforts to strengthen connectivity and enhance integration with other parts of the country.
“Just like other parts of the country, Mandera will have an airport. We will walk this journey together with Banisa, Northern Kenya, and the whole country,” he said.
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Plane Veering off Runway
This comes a month later after a plane incident involving a Safarilink Aviation flight at Wilson Airport.
On March 20, Safarilink confirmed that Flight 090, operated by ALS Limited on its behalf from Kisumu to Wilson Airport, was involved in a runway excursion upon landing at 8:55 PM.
The airline added that all 34 passengers and five crew members on board were safe, with no serious injuries reported.
Safarilink stated that emergency response teams quickly responded to the situation, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
The airline said that it had launched a full investigation in coordination with aviation authorities to determine the cause of the incident.
