Kenya Airways Flight Diverted Back to Nairobi Mid-Air

A Kenya Airways flight was diverted back to Nairobi mid-air. According to data from flightradar24, the KQ654 flight was scheduled to fly from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to Kisumu International Airport in Kisumu on March 25, 2025.

The flight’s estimated departure time was 8:35 am but it actually left Nairobi at 8:42 a.m.

It was estimated that it would arrive in Kisumu at around 9:25 am.

The flight map indicates that the aircraft performed multiple loops and turns over Ngong Hills, Kiserian, and Ongata Rongai.

It was at this point that it was redirected back to Nairobi instead of continuing to its intended destination.

According to the data, the flight has been plying the route since March 19 without any technicalities.

Reports indicate that the aircraft experienced a right engine failure mid-flight.

However, the pilot handled the situation professionally and safely landed the flight at JKIA.

All passengers onboard have disembarked safely at JKIA, and plans are underway to book the travellers on another flight.

The Kenya Airways or Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) had not released an official statement regarding the incident at the time of publishing.

Also Read: Kenyan Plane Crashes in Somalia Killing All Onboard

Past Kenya Airways Flight Diversions

In April 2024, two early morning Kenya Airways and Jambojet planes were diverted back to the JKIA after they failed to land at the Eldoret International Airport (EIA).

Jambojet said the plane could not land upon arrival at EIA because of poor visibility as a result of bad weather.

Similarly, two Kenya Airways planes were diverted back to JKIA in December 2023. 

The first incident happened on December 16 when a Dubai-bound plane was diverted after Air Traffic Control encountered tyre debris during a regular runway inspection. 

The following day another KQ flight headed to Kigali, Rwanda from Nairobi was diverted back because of low visibility and bad weather.

Also Read: Kenya Airways to Introduce Degree and Masters Programs

What Causes Flight Diversions

According to Simple Flying, there are many different reasons why an aircraft may be diverted or land at an unplanned destination.

This includes the weather, especially at the routes or the destination airport.

Others include technical issues, medical issues, passenger disruption, safety or other concerns.

Aircraft might also experience problems at the destination airports which might force the pilot to divert.

For instance, there might be a runway closure at the arrival airport and the approaching aircraft may have to divert.

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