Preident Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential jet made a rare U-TURN literally mid-air after it emerged that the flight path assigned was the dangerous war thorn Yemen air space. The jet was to drop Uhuru and his entourage in Dubai from where he was to connect a commercial flight to Los Angeles USA.
It is obvious top security/logistics advisors may have mis-advised the presidency on the flight path, it is rather obvious to even commercial planes that flying in the Yemen airspace is danderous where terrorists possessing MANPADS “have threatened and targeted both international civil aviation and airports in the country,â€
According to State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu, President Uhuru left Nairobi Thursday evening on board his official Kenya Airforce aircraft destined for Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where he was due to connect to a commercial flight to Los Angeles.
However, the President’s plane did not make it to Dubai.
“Following reports of increased military activity in Yemen, there was a challenge on the routing leading to a decision to turn back. The President touched the ground at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 11.42 pm†Esipisu said in a statement.
A source not close to statehouse however told this writer that the plane was recalled to Nairobi mid-air after the USA security agencies based in Nairobi advised the same.
It is embarrassing to Kenyans that our top security officers cannot gather simple intelligence had already dispatched our president to statehouse a risky airspace, it is very embarrassing. It is time Uhuru got back Mutea Iringo as Principal secretary in charge of security, added our source.
The American Federal Aviation Authourity has classified parts of Africa airspace as dangerous and therefore could not risk the life of president Kenyatta and thus they advised for a recall of the plane and re-plan for a much secure air path.
Here are list of airspace that are listed as dangerous>>>
The FAA prohibits flight operations at or below 20,000 feet, except where necessary for takeoff in an adjacent country. View document »
Libya
The FAA prohibits flight operations within the Tripoli Flight Information Region, which includes small northern sections of Niger and Chad in addition to Libya. View document »
North Korea
A special notice warns that “North Korea has a history of launching short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles with no warning.†The FAA advises caution in and around the Pyongyang Flight Information Region east of 132 degrees east longitude and prohibits flight operations west of that line. View document »
Somalia
Flight operations are prohibited in Somalian airspace at or below 20,000 feet, except where necessary for takeoff in an adjacent country. View document »
Ukraine
The FAA had already prohibited flight operations over Crimea beginning in April. After Flight 17 was shot down July 17 in a separatist-controlled area of Ukraine, the FAA expanded the prohibited area to encompass the eastern part of the country. View document »
Potentially hostile regions
Afghanistan
Due to ongoing military operations and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan, the FAA warns that civil aircraft could be damaged by small-arms fire, rocket fire or attacks using man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). View document »
Congo
According to the FAA, that rebels shot down a civilian Boeing 727 plane in 1998 “demonstrates that the rebel forces . . . can and will shoot down civil aircraft they believe to be carrying government soldiers or weaponry.†Aircraft are advised not to fly through the republic at an altitude of less than 15,000 feet. View document »
Egypt Sinai Peninsula
The advisory warns against flight operations over the Sinai Peninsula at or below 24,000 feet due to the risk of attacks from small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, anti aircraft fire and MANPADS. View document »
Iran
The FAA does not describe specific instances of hostility in Iran but notes that the State Department issued a travel warning and “the U.S. government does not currently maintain diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.†View document »
Kenya
Mali
With extremist and militant insurgent groups in northern and western Mali, civilian aircraft risk encountering “small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, rocket and mortar fire, and anti-aircraft fire,†including MANPADS. View document »
Syria
The FAA discourages flight operations over Syria, saying, “No part of Syria should be considered immune from violence.†The administration warns that low-flying aircraft are threatened by MANPADS and anti aircraft artillery. View document »
Yemen
Terrorists possessing MANPADS “have threatened and targeted both international civil aviation and airports in the country,†according to the FAA’s advisory. View document »
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