National Carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has revealed that flight diversions reported in Mogadishu since May 24 are due to safety concerns.

In a statement on June 4, KQ said the diversions back to Nairobi were due to “stronger-than-usual tailwinds.”

The National Carrier said the conditions made it “impossible to land the aircraft safely.”

KQ said it could not fly the secondary approach into Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport due to safety concerns since its pilots would need to overly the city.

“Our crew did not opt to use the alternative runway approach overflying the city until the Airport authorities in Mogadishu mitigated the security and safety concerns.”

However, KQ said authorities in Mogadishu had since addressed its concerns “and we will be able to land the aircraft safely”.

KQ did not elaborate on how many flights it diverted and why the airline continued to fly into Mogadishu amid the concerns.