Kenya: Flight disruptions likely at Kisumu International Airport into early May 31 following runway closure due to minor aircraft incident

Flight disruptions will likely continue at Kisumu International Airport (KIS) into the early hours of May 31 after the facility was forced to suspend operations temporarily due to an immobilized aircraft blocking its only runway. The incident occurred at about 18:36 when Kenya Airways (KQ) flight 670 from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) struck a bird upon landing at KIS; although the aircraft landed safely and all passengers subsequently deplaned, the impact damaged the plane's steering mechanism preventing it from taxiing off of the runway. Airport authorities have as yet provided no estimate as to when normal flight operations may resume at KIS.

Lingering disruptions are possible for several hours after flight operations resume as airlines reposition aircraft and clear passenger backlogs.