Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Monday, May 6, clarified reports that a Qatar plane flying from Doha to Nairobi encountered severe turbulence while leaving Somalia airspace.
This followed reports circulated online that the plane suffered internal damage due to extreme weather conditions in Somalia.
The now-flagged report further alleged that after landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), one passenger was rushed to hospital.
“Our attention has been drawn to circulating social media reports alleging that a flight encountered severe turbulence and internal damage before landing at JKIA,’ KAA spoke of the situation.
“We want to clarify that these reports are false.”
Encouraging media literacy, KAA urged the Kenyan public to exercise caution while circulating the images.
Kenyans were further asked to always verify the accuracy of information before sharing noting it could lead to business losses.
“Spreading false information can cause unnecessary panic and confusion among travellers and the general public,” KAA added.
Kenya and around its borders have been experiencing extreme weather conditions due to flooding that is in its second month.
While the intense downpour has inconvenienced road transport, air travel has remained largely unaffected.
Passengers using JKIA have been advised to always arrive early so as to avoid unforeseen road obstructions.
