NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 25 – A cargo plane crash-landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday evening causing panic at the busy facility.
The incident
occurred
"The plane experienced mechanical problems and could not land safely. The plane burst a tyre on the landing strip," said a senior police officer at the airport.
Hew said no casualties were reported.
All incoming flights were told to hold or else be diverted to either Mombasa or other alternate airports within reach for inbound planes as a precaution.
All departures from JKIA were delayed until the runway was cleared.
"That took place within the hour after the plane was towed off the runway and normal operations then proceeded," he said.
Delays, according to an operations source at the airport, were minimal and by morning full service had been resumed with all flights in and out of Nairobi on schedule.
Astral Aviation is a cargo airline based in the city with its main base at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
It was established in November 2000 and started operations the following year in January.
It operates non-scheduled and ad hoc charters to regional destinations in Africa.