By Bonface Mulyungi

Kenya Airways has confirmed that one of its aircraft operating flight KQ421 from Entebbe to Nairobi was forced to return to Entebbe International Airport on Sunday after experiencing a bird strike shortly after take-off.

The airline said the incident occurred on Sunday at around 10:02 when the aircraft struck birds shortly after departure from Entebbe International Airport en route to Nairobi.

Following standard safety procedures, the flight crew assessed the situation and turned back to Entebbe.

The aircraft landed safely at 10:41 a.m and all passengers and crew on board disembarked without injuries.

Kenya Airways said the bird strike affected the aircraft’s steering components, prompting an immediate technical inspection by engineers in coordination with airport officials.

The airline added that maintenance teams are working to return the aircraft to service as quickly as possible, with an estimated resumption time of around 8:00 p.m. the same day, subject to clearance.

“As a result of this bird strike, some of our scheduled flights for today may experience delays as we recover the network,” the airline said, noting that operational disruptions could follow the incident.

Kenya Airways apologised to affected passengers, assuring them that safety remains its top priority.

The airline said its teams are in contact with customers to provide assistance and ensure continued care during the disruption.