An Air France flight headed for Nairobi was forced to reroute and land in Paris after experiencing mechanical problems mid-flight.
Flight AF 814 had taken off from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris for Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when the pilot reported technical problems two hours into the flight, informing passengers that he would have to return to Paris.
He explained that the Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner’s de-icing system was malfunctioning, which meant that one of the engines couldn’t clear the ice.
“There is no way we can get to Nairobi and we have to turn back,” the pilot announced to anxious passengers.
“We also have to defuel as we have too much fuel to land at Charles de Gaulle, but that’s nothing to worry about,”
“Unfortunately, your flight AF814 from Paris (CDG) to Nairobi (NBO) on 16.10.2023 has been delayed. We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience. KLM will keep you informed of any updates,” Air France’s codeshare partner KLM said in a statement.
The scheduled flight was planned to leave Paris at 2100 on Monday and arrive in Nairobi at 0630 on Tuesday morning.
The incident comes just a few days after a Kenya Airways (KQ) flight from London to Nairobi was forced to return to Heathrow Airport due to a ‘event’ on Monday afternoon.
Soon after takeoff, the pilot reported an emergency due to a “medical emergency” with one of the passengers.
The aeroplane was already well into its voyage when it made a U-turn and returned to its point of origin, according to a statement from the national airline.
