KQ Again: Nairobi Bound Plane Abandons Flight Mid-Air

A Kenya Airways (KQ) Flight KQ609 enroute to Nairobi from Mombasa had to abort mid air and return to Moi International Airport (MIA) in what KQ termed as a false mechanical fault alarm.

The incident happened on Monday 17th June, 2019.

The flight KQ609 had departed Mombasa at 5.45pm on Monday but was forced to return an hour later following "a fault in the aircraft's warning system".

In a statement KQ said the fault raised a false mechanical alarm, forcing the captain to take safety precautionary measures.

"After assessment, engineers declared the aircraft grounded," the statement reads in part.

On board were 95 passengers, some whom had to spend the night in Mombasa, and five crew members.

"Some passengers were accommodated on subsequent flights KQ617 and KQ619 while those with connections beyond Nairobi have been given accommodation in Mombasa to travel tomorrow (Tuesday) to their final destination," added the statement. Recent Incidents There have been similar incidents in the near past that raises eyebrows about the safety of planes at KQ.

Is the management cutting corners in terms of servicing and spare parts, like the killer Don Smith and Fly 540? According to reports, engineers in Nairobi had detected an issue with the aircraft but it was cleared to fly after it was established that it was a false alarm

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