Kenya Airways has confirmed that one of its flights bound for New York returned to Nairobi after experiencing a technical issue while flying over Chad.
The airline said Flight KQ 002D, which departed Nairobi on Sunday, July 5, developed a flight controls spoiler malfunction, prompting the crew to make a precautionary decision to turn back for safety reasons.
According to the national carrier, the crew followed all required safety procedures before returning the aircraft to Nairobi, where it was scheduled to land shortly after midnight on Monday, July 6, for technical inspection.
Kenya Airways Plane Returns to Nairobi Following Mid-Flight Technical Issue. Photo: Courtesy.
Kenya Airways apologized to passengers affected by the disruption, reiterating that the safety of its passengers and crew remains its highest priority.
The airline also said affected travellers would be accommodated on the next available flights.
The carrier noted that spoiler malfunctions are rare but can occur, adding that such faults increase drag and fuel consumption.
It emphasized that its pilots are trained to manage these situations safely and that precautionary air turnbacks are a standard safety measure.
