KQ nonstop flight to US: The inaugural flight by Kenya Airways from Nairobi to New York was captained by senior pilot Captain Joseph Kinuthia.
In an exclusive interview with KTN, the pilot who hails from Murang’a says that he was chosen because of his flight experience.
Apparently, Captain Kinuthia has been at Kenya Airways since 1978.
Joining Captain Kinuthia was co-pilot Eric Mbugua, assisted by Jobba Musa and Patrick Kipsambu. 12 flight attendants were also on board to cater for the passengers in the 15-hour flight to New York City.
By 7.45pm in the evening, guests had started trickling in for the flight expected to have 234 passengers among them CNN journalist Richard Quest. Thirty passengers will fly Business Class.
The plane left Nairobi at 10.45 PM on Sunday and was expected to touch down at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York at 6.45 a.m Monday.
The return leg, a 14-hour flight will depart JFK Airport at 12:25pm on Monday and touch down in Nairobi at 10:25am on Tuesday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta led senior government officials who arrived at the airport to bid farewell to the inaugural direct flight from Kenya to the US.
Foreign Affairs CS Monicah Juma led the government delegation aboard the flight.