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Kenya Airways was on Saturday, December 15, 2023, forced to turn back a plane named KQ310 which was headed to Dubai.

According to a statement from Kenya Airways, at 9:20 p.m. the JKIA Air Traffic Control team identified tyre debris during their regular runway inspection.

Kenya Airways 310

Further checks established that the tyre debris was part of the KQ310 plane that had already departed for Dubai.

In adherence to safety procedures and consultation with operations control, the decision was made to initiate a precautionary air turnback for technical attention.

“Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) confirms that on 15 December 2023 at approximately 21:20 HRS, JKIA Air Traffic Control encountered tyre debris during a regular runway inspection. Upon further inspection, it was established by the KO operations team that the tyre debris was from KQ 310, which had departed on a scheduled operation from Nairobi to Dubai,” the statement by KQ revealed.

The crew successfully executed the air turnback, and the plane landed safely back in Nairobi at 11:36 p.m.

“The KQ operations team contacted the crew and agreed on a precautionary air turnback to Nairobi for further technical attention. The crew followed the precautionary safety procedures in consultation with operations control and returned to Nairobi safely, landing at 23:46 HRS without incident,” the statement added.

Kenya Airways apologizes

Passengers on the flight were provided with accommodation, and arrangements were made for them to be rebooked on the next available flight.

Kenya Airways expressed apologies for any inconvenience caused and insisted that the safety of passengers and crew was their top priority.

“The passengers have been provided with accommodation as arrangements are made to rebook them on the next available flight. Air turnbacks are standard safety procedures in aviation. We sincerely apologize to our guests for the inconvenience and assure our customers that their safety and that of our crew is our highest priority,” the statement concluded.