Passengers aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Entebbe to Nairobi were forced to return to Uganda on Sunday morning after the aircraft experienced a bird strike shortly after takeoff.
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According to the airline, flight KQ421, which had departed from Entebbe International Airport for Nairobi, encountered the incident at around 10:02am East Africa Time on May 24, 2026.
Following standard aviation safety procedures, the flight crew informed passengers onboard before making the decision to return to Entebbe International Airport as a precautionary safety measure.
The aircraft landed safely at 10:41am local time, with all passengers and crew safely disembarking without injuries.
Kenya Airways said the bird strike affected the aircraft’s steering components, forcing engineers and airport officials to begin immediate inspection and repair works.
⚠️ The airline has warned that some scheduled flights may experience delays throughout the day as recovery operations continue.
Engineers are currently working to restore the aircraft back into service, with Kenya Airways estimating that the plane could resume operations by around 8:00pm later in the day.
Bird strikes remain one of the most common aviation safety incidents globally, especially during takeoff and landing phases, where aircraft operate at lower altitudes near bird activity zones.
Kenya Airways has not reported any injuries or further safety concerns linked to the incident.
