The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed that a fire that affected a section of grassland surrounding Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has been contained.
In a statement on Friday, February 21, KAA assured the public that the fire remained confined to non-operational areas and did not threaten critical infrastructure.
According to KAA, the fire was contained by a coordinated emergency response team including the KAA Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting Service and the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF).
“A coordinated response team, including the KAA Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting Service, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), and Nairobi County Fire Unit, is working diligently to contain the situation.
“KAA assures the public that the fire is confined to non-operational grassland areas and has not impacted any critical infrastructure or operational zones of JKIA,” the statement read.
While authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire, KAA emphasized that airport services remained unaffected.
“All airport activities, including flight schedules, passenger processing, and cargo handling, remain fully operational and unaffected. The authority will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” the statement added.
In addition, police have announced that they have commenced investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
This comes about two months after low-cost airline Jambojet announced flight disruptions after one of their aircrafts crashed into a pole at JKIA.
In an update on December 3, 2024, the airline said the incident happened during their routine overnight maintenance activities.
According to Jambojet, the aircraft rolled off the ramp while parked, and came into contact with a pole that damaged its nose.
“We wish to report that no injuries occurred to our staff during this incident. Our team is working diligently with the authorities to investigate the matter and ensure all necessary measures are taken to prevent a recurrence.
“Safety remains our top priority, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in all our operations. The aircraft has since been removed from operations until it is cleared,” the statement read in part.
