This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
Published on January 12, 2020, a Facebook post by Phil Etale, communications director at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, highlighted concerns about Fly540's fleet.
Etale shared a disturbing account of a Fly540 flight from JKIA to Eldoret, where passengers experienced difficulties with the aircraft's air conditioning and a sudden slowdown in flight. The pilot was forced to make an emergency u-turn back to JKIA, leaving passengers shaken and worried for their lives.
Another passenger, Jesca Kiplagat, corroborated Etale's account, describing a harrowing experience on a Fly540 flight from Eldoret to Nairobi. She recounted feeling the plane struggle to take off, experiencing a rough and shaky ride, and fearing a crash.
Despite these complaints, Fly540's website appears to deny using old aircraft, stating that their planes are maintained by experienced engineers and technicians. However, the airline's fleet list reveals a mix of older models, including the Bombardier Dash 8 102 Series, Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet, DC-9, and Fokker F28.
