Nairobi airport closed
Aug 6, 2013, 11:37 pm
#1
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Location: Seattle, Wash. USA
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Nairobi airport closed
Due to massive fire in the arrivals/departures area of the terminal:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23598012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23598012
Aug 7, 2013, 12:38 am
#2
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Due to massive fire in the arrivals/departures area of the terminal:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23598012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23598012
Aug 7, 2013, 12:41 am
#3
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From the look of the live feed, http://www.ntv.co.ke/live/ , they're going to have to make other arrangements for processing passengers for a while.
Aug 7, 2013, 1:41 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,249
The airport has a NOTAM out estimating reopening the runway for operations at 0900UTC or 1200L in Kenya. Today's BA065 Canx. Whilst the runway may be usable, the BBC report makes any passenger processing rather unlikely for Int'l flights.
Aug 7, 2013, 4:07 am
#7
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The 065 today is cancelled. I was to be on it tomorrow and have just cancelled my plans.
The KTN Kenya TV showed that the fire raged for four hours, and is now "contained", and shows smoke still coming out of international arrivals and firemen have not yet got into the building.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/live
The news desk are saying shut down "indefinitely"
That terminal is not going to opened for a while IMHO. It may now have been considerably "enhanced" since I was there last week
They are setting up diversions to Mombassa and Eldoret
Update at 1110 - the 1100 news has pictures from inside International arrivals - it is gutted. Apparrently contained from spreading to the departures area.
The KTN Kenya TV showed that the fire raged for four hours, and is now "contained", and shows smoke still coming out of international arrivals and firemen have not yet got into the building.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/live
The news desk are saying shut down "indefinitely"
That terminal is not going to opened for a while IMHO. It may now have been considerably "enhanced" since I was there last week
They are setting up diversions to Mombassa and Eldoret
Update at 1110 - the 1100 news has pictures from inside International arrivals - it is gutted. Apparrently contained from spreading to the departures area.
Aug 7, 2013, 4:58 am
#8
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It's a mixed blessing in a way.
The terminal is in desperate need of being rebuilt and expanded so this is a great opportunity to do it, plus they will no doubt be able to secure aid to do so. However having the airport closed in the peak tourist season will be a disaster for the economy, not to mention the damage to the fresh produce cargo businesses that operate from the airport.
The terminal is in desperate need of being rebuilt and expanded so this is a great opportunity to do it, plus they will no doubt be able to secure aid to do so. However having the airport closed in the peak tourist season will be a disaster for the economy, not to mention the damage to the fresh produce cargo businesses that operate from the airport.
Aug 7, 2013, 6:10 am
#9
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Aug 7, 2013, 6:34 am
#10
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Aug 7, 2013, 7:01 am
#11
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Had been thinking of posting something similar! Would much prefer to be a BA customer (or any EU airline) in this sort of situation given duty of care still applies. Presume BA would aim to do something like shuttle flights to Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam using a local airline where they can then get a big bird in to land...
Aug 7, 2013, 7:16 am
#12
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Had been thinking of posting something similar! Would much prefer to be a BA customer (or any EU airline) in this sort of situation given duty of care still applies. Presume BA would aim to do something like shuttle flights to Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam using a local airline where they can then get a big bird in to land...
Aug 7, 2013, 7:25 am
#14
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They do have dedicated engines, but there were reported to be 20 tenders present at one point as outside engines also responded. The reports seem to be saying the external tenders took a long time to arrive. Probably so, they have to be called out and then try to drive through the Nairobi traffic chaos. I gather roads to the airport were already clogged with traffic - and the airport approach roads at NBO have to be seen to be believed!!
The news reports said they were running out of water, not unsurprisingly when you look at the fire!
Speed of response will be the issue and how caused - and what initial reaction ie could it have been contained earlier.
Fortunately no loss of life.
The news reports said they were running out of water, not unsurprisingly when you look at the fire!
Speed of response will be the issue and how caused - and what initial reaction ie could it have been contained earlier.
Fortunately no loss of life.
Aug 7, 2013, 7:26 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2012
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There is another airport nearby, WIL. I believe it's pretty much domestic flights and not sure what aircraft it could handle or if it could handle any extra traffic???