JKIA Emergency Drill Disrupts Normalcy As KAA Issues Statement
Planes scheduled to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday morning, June 11, were diverted to Moi International Airport in Mombasa for an emergency drill exercise.
At 12:28 p.m., the Kenya Red Cross reported that a jet had crashed at the airport, and rescue efforts were underway.
“An aircraft incident involving a crash landing has been reported at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA),” Kenya Red Cross said.
However, approximately 20 minutes later, the agency stated that the incident was a drill exercise.
UPDATE: The situation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) relates to a scheduled emergency response simulation exercise.
There is no real emergency. Operations at the airport are normal. @KenyaAirports https://t.co/hUXU4EqRQw— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) June 11, 2026
“The situation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) relates to a scheduled emergency response simulation exercise,” Kenya Red Cross said.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), on the other hand, verified the incident at approximately 12:08pm, stating that emergency reaction teams had been dispatched to the airport.
“KAA is currently responding to an emergency situation at JKIA,” the authority said.
“Emergency response teams and agencies have been activated and are managing the situation in accordance with established emergency procedures.”
🚨NOTICE: KAA is currently responding to an emergency situation at JKIA.
Emergency response teams & agencies have been activated & are managing the situation in accordance with established emergency procedures.
Further updates as more information becomes available.— Kenya Airports Authority (@KenyaAirports) June 11, 2026
Initial efforts to gain additional details from the authority were fruitless.
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Moments later, at around 1:08pm, KAA confirmed that the emergency was a simulation exercise conducted as part of a Full-Scale Emergency Exercise, with normal operations resuming.
“The emergency situation earlier reported at JKIA was a simulated scenario conducted as part of a planned Full-Scale Emergency Exercise,” KAA’s statement read.
“The drill has been successfully concluded. Normal airport operations continue.”
In April last year, the airport’s management conducted a similar exercise aimed at identifying security vulnerabilities within its infrastructure and enhancing staff preparedness and capacity to respond to high-risk scenarios that may arise.
Such drills typically involve simulated incidents, including explosions, within airport facilities such as terminal buildings.
They are designed to assess how airport staff and emergency responders would react to such scenarios.
JKIA Emergency Drill Disrupts Normalcy As KAA Issues Statement
