Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has explained why the Cargo plane that stalled at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) took time to be removed off the runway.
According to the CS, a Singapore airline cargo aircraft, B747-400, aborted take-off after 11 out of 16 rear tyres were punctured at around 8:10 am.
"The process to remove the aircraft from the runway required the evacuation of 100 tonnes of cargo and replacement of the damaged tyre before the aircraft can be towed off the runway," he said.
He said that a technical team of representatives from Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Airways, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and other interested parties had been working hard to get the plane out of the way so that regular operations could resume.
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"We estimate that 1530hrs will complete the process of removing the aircraft from the runway," Murkomen said.
JKIA has since suspended flights as the aircraft is at the end of the runway.
So far, limited takeoff operations involving smaller aircraft have been up to Code C.
"We regret the inconvenience caused by this unfortunate incident, however, our priority remains the safety of our passengers," the statement read.
Kenya Airports Authority on Monday morning announced that flights into, and out of JKIA had been temporarily suspended.
KAA said the runway closure resulted from an aborted take-off by a cargo plane after it developed technical hitches.
