Kenya Airways has confirmed that one of its aircraft was grounded in South Africa following an operational incident that disrupted its scheduled service.
The airline has confirmed a disruption to its Nairobi–Cape Town service after one of its aircraft experienced a bird strike upon arrival in Cape Town.
The airline, in a statement dated May 10, stated that the aircraft was operating from Nairobi (NBO) to Cape Town (CPT) when the incident occurred earlier in the day.
“We confirm that earlier today, one of our aircraft operating from Nairobi (NBO) to Cape Town (CPT) experienced a bird strike incident upon arrival into Cape Town,” the airline stated.
According to Kenya Airways, the aircraft landed safely at Cape Town International Airport at approximately 1:55 p.m. East African Time.
The airline emphasized that there was no compromise to landing safety despite the incident.
Kenya Airways Plane Grounded in South Africa
Following a technical assessment after landing, the aircraft was declared Aircraft on Ground (AOG) due to significant damage to the radome.
From the statement, this classification meant the aircraft could not continue normal operations until the necessary inspections and repairs were completed.
The incident directly affected the scheduled return flight from Cape Town to Nairobi, resulting in operational disruption to the route.
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“Following technical assessment, the aircraft was declared Aircraft on Ground (AOG) following significant damage to the radome. This affected the service flight from Cape Town back to Nairobi,” the statement read.
Kenya Airways stated that the aircraft is currently undergoing the required inspections and maintenance in line with standard safety and operational procedures.
The airline noted that technical teams are working to address the damage and restore the aircraft to service.
Underway Maintenance
According to the update, maintenance and recovery efforts are being conducted urgently, with the aim of returning the aircraft to Nairobi within the next 24 hours.
The airline indicated that technical teams are working continuously to expedite the process.
Additionally, the carrier stated that it is actively working to minimize disruption to its flight schedule. Passengers affected by the service interruption are being supported with communication updates on alternative travel arrangements, where applicable.
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“We are actively working to minimize disruption to our schedule and support affected customers through communication updates on alternative travel arrangements where applicable.”
Kenya Airways acknowledged the inconvenience caused to customers by the incident.
The airline apologized to passengers and expressed appreciation for their patience and understanding during the recovery process.
The airline said its priority remains restoring normal operations while ensuring that all safety and operational requirements are fully met before the aircraft is returned to service.
