DO NOT PANIC – THIS IS A DRILL
(Posted 20th May 2015)
Several regular sources yesterday early morning were swift to pass information that ‘Something is going on at JKIA’ but upon further investigation and when getting in touch with the Kenya Airport Authority it soon became clear that Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was undergoing a major drill to test systems and preparedness for all kind of eventualities. In fact did KAA later issue the following press statement clarifying on the day’s events and calming the almost inevitable rumours spilling into the social media:
Start quote:
Kenya Airports Authority would like to confirm that at 9AM today we successfully conducted a security and emergency drill based on the following scenario;
SCENARIO: A group of Terrorist this morning hijacked a flight KQ KXXX set to leave for Malindi. The flight had 30 passengers. The terrorists demanded food, refuelling facilities and a flight plan to their destination of choice. The GSU Recce team neutralized the threat, with casualties being evacuated by the Red Cross to various city hospitals.
All airports under ICAO regulations and standards are obligated to do such drills once every three years to put to task their level of preparedness and security standards.
More info:
Categories:Types, Presentations
Published by: KenyaAirports on May 19, 2015
End quote:
KAA then tweeted their thanks to all cooperating partners in conducting this exercise and for public reassurance also posted the following pictures, taken from their twitter handle:
Kenya Airports @Kenya_Airports
– Today’s drill was a security drill conducted under Annex 17 of the ICAO aviation security standards.
– Today’s #JKIADrill was conducted at the airport’s airside & did not in anyway affect traffic on Msa Rd.
– We thank all partners involved in making today’s #JKIADrill a success. This includes @KenyaAirways @NDOCKenya & @KenyaRedCross
– Special thanks to the GSU Recce team & the Police for supporting today’s #JKIADrill
Besides the Kenya’s main airport Jomo Kenyatta International does KAA also manage Nairobi’s second airport, Wilson besides Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Malindi, Eldoret, Kisumu, Lamu and Ukunda besides a number of aerodromes and airstrips across the country.
