By KPC Reporter
Hours after celebrating the teams that keep its aircraft operating safely, Kenya Airways (KQ) was forced to return one of its regional flights to Entebbe following a bird strike incident that disrupted operations.
Earlier Sunday, the national carrier had posted a tribute to its technical teams in observance of Aircraft Maintenance Technician Day, praising the engineers whose “skill, precision, and dedication continue to keep the Pride of Africa flying every day.”
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But later in the evening, airline issued a customer update confirming that flight KQ421, operating from Entebbe to Nairobi, experienced a bird strike shortly after take-off.
According to KQ, the aircraft departed Entebbe but encountered the incident at around 10:02 a.m. East Africa Time.
“Upon following the safety procedures and informing our guests onboard our crew elected to return to Entebbe International Airport, landing safely at 10:41hrs local time,” the airline said.
All passengers and crew disembarked safely.
Kenya Airways said the bird strike affected the aircraft’s steering components, prompting immediate technical intervention.
“Our engineers and airport officials are working round the clock to return the aircraft back to service as soon as possible,” the airline stated, adding that it expected the aircraft to be restored by 8:00 p.m.
The carrier did not immediately confirm whether the affected flight later resumed service or whether passengers were transferred to another aircraft.
The incident also triggered wider operational disruptions.
“As a result of this bird strike some of our scheduled flights for today may experience some delays as we recover the network,” the statement added.
Kenya Airways apologized to affected travellers and reiterated that safety remained its highest priority.
“Our teams are in contact with affected guests and are working diligently to provide the necessary care and assistance for their comfort,” the airline said.
By the time we published this story, way past the promised return of the aircraft to Nairobi, we did not have the clear information regarding its status.
