A Jambojet flight scheduled from Nairobi to Kisumu was forced to abort takeoff early Sunday after a system caution alert was detected, prompting the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew.
The incident occurred at 6:00 am involving flight JM 8650, operated by aircraft registered 5Y-JXL. The airline confirmed the decision to halt takeoff was a precautionary safety measure.
Following the alert, the airline's ground team promptly assisted all guests and crew to disembark safely. The aircraft was subsequently moved back to the bay for a thorough technical evaluation by maintenance personnel.
Jambojet issued a statement saying:
- "We confirm that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated and received necessary assistance from our ground team."
- "The aircraft is undergoing technical checks to ensure it meets all safety standards before further operations."
- "We apologise for any inconvenience caused and reiterate that safety remains our highest priority."
This event comes amid ongoing tensions in Kenya's aviation sector, with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) having issued a strike notice affecting multiple aviation bodies, including Jambojet.
However, Jambojet has clarified that it does not have a collective bargaining agreement with KAWU and assured the public that its flight operations will continue as scheduled despite the union's planned industrial action.
