KQ Returns Entebbe Flight After Bird Strike Hours After Honoring Engineers

Hours after recognizing the teams responsible for maintaining aircraft safety, Kenya Airways (KQ) was compelled to redirect a regional flight back to Entebbe following a bird strike that disrupted operations.
Earlier that day, the national carrier had honored its technical teams in observance of Aircraft Maintenance Technician Day, commending the engineers whose “skill, precision, and dedication continue to keep the Pride of Africa flying every day.”
Later in the evening, the airline issued a customer update confirming that flight KQ421, traveling from Entebbe to Nairobi, encountered a bird strike shortly after take-off.
According to KQ, the aircraft departed Entebbe but experienced the incident at approximately 10:02 a.m. East Africa Time.
“After following safety protocols and informing passengers, the crew decided to return to Entebbe International Airport, landing safely at 10:41hrs local time,” the airline reported.
All passengers and crew members disembarked without incident.
Kenya Airways stated that the bird strike impacted the aircraft’s steering components, necessitating immediate technical assessment.
“Our engineers and airport personnel are working tirelessly to return the aircraft to operational status as soon as possible,” the airline stated, adding that they anticipated the aircraft would be restored by 8:00 p.m.
The carrier did not immediately specify whether the affected flight resumed operations or if passengers were accommodated on another aircraft.
The incident also caused broader operational disruptions.
“Due to this bird strike, some of our scheduled flights for the day may experience delays as we restore our network operations,” the statement noted.
Kenya Airways expressed apologies to affected passengers and reaffirmed that safety remained their primary concern.
“Our teams are communicating with affected travelers and working diligently to provide appropriate care and assistance for their comfort,” the airline stated.
At the time of this report, well beyond the promised return time to Nairobi, definitive information about the aircraft’s status remained unclear.