Update: Mandera plane scare as passengers describe moments of terror after aircraft skids off runway

Passengers aboard the EBB Air plane that skidded off the runway at Mandera Airstrip have described the frightening moments after the aircraft failed to stop and plunged into nearby thickets. The plane, which was flying from Nairobi to Mandera, reportedly hit the tarmac and then failed to brake properly, damaging part of the military fence before ending up in the bushes. At least 36 people who were on board escaped without serious injuries, but passengers say the incident left them badly shaken. One passenger said they heard a loud sound shortly after landing, before panic spread inside the plane. “I am still in shock. I heard a loud sound as I breathed off after a long flight from Nairobi. I was preparing to get off my seat when the unexpected happened,” the passenger said. Another passenger said the cabin went silent as people tried to understand what had happened. “Things went silent,” she said. A flight attendant reportedly tried to calm passengers, apologising and assuring them that the aircraft was safe before announcing that it had missed the runway. Mandera County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa confirmed that all 36 people on board were accounted for and that no serious injuries were reported. The incident has renewed concerns about Mandera’s air transport safety, with locals saying the area urgently needs a proper airport instead of relying on the military airstrip, which has a short runway. Residents and leaders have previously pushed for a new international airport in Mandera, but the project has faced delays due to local land disputes. The big question now is whether authorities will finally act before Mandera witnesses a worse aviation disaster.