The Kenya Airways flight conducted two missed approaches at Kisumu, Kenya due to strong winds, before experiencing a bird strike on 30 May 2024.
Kenya Airways flight KQ670, a Boeing 737-800 was operating a regional service from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). It experienced the bird strike on its third and final approach to the destination.
Kenya Airways KQ670 Nairobi-Kisumu
According to the online source Aviation Herald, the flight carried out three approaches at the destination airport.
Two missed approaches were carried out due to strong winds at the airport. On the third approach attempt, the aircraft experienced a bird strike.
The flight was subsequently able to land off the third approach attempt to Kisumu runway 08.
However, on landing, flight crew experienced further problems as damage to the steering gear from the birdstrike meant they were unable to vacate the active runway.
Movable air stairs were deployed to the aircraft to disembark passengers, who were then transported by bus to the airport terminal.
The aircraft conducting the KQ670 regional service to Kisumu was a Boeing 737-800, registered 5Y-CYA. This is a 9.7-year-old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Kenya Airways.
It has been in service with the national airline since its original delivery in October 2014.
Bird Strike Problem at Kisumu
Bird strikes are a common problem for airplanes flying in and out of Kisumu International Airport.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority has identified Kisumu as an area needing bird control measures due to the frequency of bird strikes.
A passenger was recently injured after a bird strike on a Jambojet aircraft in Kisumu.
Kisumu International Airport (KIS) is an international airport serving Kisumu, the third-largest city in Kenya. It’s the busiest airport in western Kenya and the country’s fourth international airport.
The airport is located northwest of the main townsite, bordering Lake Victoria on the western and southern sides.
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