A Kenya Airways PLC plane (KQ100 flight) from Nairobi to London was on Thursday diverted from landing at Heathrow airport over a security threat.
This incident was confirmed by the national carrier on Thursday evening.
“Kenya Airways confirms that on Thursday, 12 October 2023, at around 10:30hrs, KQ Headquarters received an alert of a potential security threat on board KQ100 flight operating from Nairobi to London Heathrow,” Kenya Airways said in a statement.
Sky News claimed that RAF jets allegedly intercepted the plane. These jets had allegedly taken over from French jets.
“The Boeing 787 was diverted into London Stansted just before 3.45pm. It had been due to land at Heathrow Airport from Nairobi. It is understood the Typhoon jets took over the interception from French jets,” Sky News reported. This was however not immediately confirmed by authorities.
A photo shared by Sky News, however, showed a heavily armed officer aboard the plane after landing.
Instead of landing at Heathrow airport as earlier scheduled, the plane landed at Stansted airport in London.
“KQ management in conjunction with the security authorities of the Government of Kenya and the United Kingdom carried out a thorough risk assessment of the threat,” said KQ.
“The aircraft landed safely at the Stansted airport, London for security clearance by U.K government security personnel. The safety and security of our crew and customers is our number one priority.”
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The national carrier said that all the crew onboard were briefed, and all safety and security precautions were taken to ensure the safety and security of crew and the passengers on board.
Sky News quoted a passenger saying the plane landed to loads of police officers.
“On flight this morning from Nairobi to London Heathrow 45 minutes before we were due to land we were told we [have] been diverted to Stansted[.] [W]hen we arrived in Stansted loads of police cars. We’ve been surrounded by all the police. [They have] all got guns all dressed in black and are [IDing] us. Captain hasn’t even said anything,” the woman was quoted by Sky News.
