Plane Crash-Lands at JKIA as Emergency Response Teams Rush to Scene

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed that it is responding to an emergency situation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following reports of a plane crash-landing at the facility.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 11, KAA said emergency response teams and relevant agencies had been activated and were managing the situation in line with established emergency procedures.

“NOTICE: KAA is currently responding to an emergency at JKIA. Emergency response teams and agencies have been activated and are managing the situation in accordance with established emergency procedures. Further updates as more information becomes available,” the authority said.

Kenya Red Cross Reports Crash Landing Incident at JKIA

Meanwhile, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that a crash landing had been reported at JKIA.

Also Read: Senator Osotsi Breaks Silence After Surviving Wilson Airport Plane Accident

The agency said its first responders were on their way to the scene to support ongoing rescue efforts alongside Port Health Services and EMS Kenya ambulance services.

“An aircraft incident involving a crash landing has been reported at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Kenya Red Cross first responders are en route to the scene to support ongoing rescue operations, alongside Port Health Services and EMS Kenya ambulance services,” the organisation said.

Red Cross Later Clarifies Situation Was a Drill

However, the agency later clarified that the incident was not a real emergency but a scheduled emergency response simulation exercise conducted at the airport.

“UPDATE: The situation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) relates to a scheduled emergency response simulation exercise. There is no real emergency. Operations at the airport are normal,” it said.

The clarification confirmed that no aircraft had crash-landed and that the exercise was part of routine preparedness training involving emergency responders and airport authorities.

Also Read: KAA Breaks Silence After Plane Veers Off Runway at Mandera Airstrip

KAA later issued an update confirming the drill, saying the situation had been part of a planned full-scale emergency exercise.

“ UPDATE: The emergency earlier reported at JKIA was a simulated scenario conducted as part of a planned Full-Scale Emergency Exercise. The drill has been successfully concluded. Normal airport operations continue. We thank all stakeholders for their cooperation,” KAA said.

The simulated emergency comes a few months after a real aviation incident involving Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi on March 20, 2026. This happened when a Safarilink flight from Kisumu crash-landed at Wilson Airport.

Reports said the plane, which had 39 passengers and crew on board, skidded off a flooded runway while making an emergency landing. Everyone on board was safe and no one was injured.

After the incident, Senator Osotsi raised concerns about safety at Wilson Airport. He pointed to problems such as poor runway conditions, weak lighting, and cases where flights are sometimes diverted to JKIA.

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Kenya Airports Authority Head Office. PHOTO KAA FB