Heavy rains cause flight delays, diversions at Kisumu International Airport
Passengers travelling through Kisumu International Airport on Friday evening experienced significant delays, diversions and cancellations after heavy rains hit the lakeside city, disrupting flight schedules and operations.
The downpour, which began in the late afternoon, affected visibility and runway conditions, forcing airlines to adjust departure and arrival times for safety.
Departures hit by long delays
Several flights operated by Jambojet were pushed back by hours as the weather worsened:
- Flight JM8655, scheduled to depart at 2:30pm, finally took off at 3:08pm.
- Flight JM8657, scheduled for 4:50pm, departed at 7:08pm after an extended delay.
- A chartered flight to Entebbe that was set to leave at 5:15pm was cancelled altogether.
- Flight JM8659, scheduled for 6:30pm, departed much later at 9:50pm.
- Flight JM8679, scheduled for 7:50pm, eventually took off at 8:27pm.
Passengers reported long waiting times inside the terminal as airline staff worked to reorganise departures while monitoring changing weather conditions.
Arrivals also affected
Incoming flights were not spared from the disruption.
- Flight JM8656 was diverted back to Nairobi due to poor visibility over Kisumu.
- Flight JM8658, scheduled to land at 6:10pm, eventually touched down at 9:34pm after hours of delay.
Saturday morning cancellation
The disruption stretched into Saturday morning. Flight JM8650, scheduled to land at Kisumu International Airport this morning, was cancelled.
Safety first amid unpredictable weather
Aviation safety protocols require pilots and air traffic controllers to delay or divert flights when visibility drops or runway conditions become unsafe. The heavy evening rainstorm created challenging landing and takeoff conditions, prompting the widespread schedule changes.
Travellers have been advised to check flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport, especially as the rainy season continues to bring unpredictable weather across the region.
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