Passengers travelling between Nairobi and Cape Town have been affected after Kenya Airways cancelled its return flight from South Africa following a tyre burst involving one of its aircraft.
In a customer update issued on Tuesday, August 4, the national carrier confirmed that flight KQ784, which departed Nairobi for Cape Town, experienced a tyre burst after landing safely at approximately 3:30pm local time.
Despite the incident, the airline assured passengers that there were no injuries, with everyone on board safely evacuated.
"Our crew acted in accordance with their safety training. All passengers and crew have safely disembarked and have been taken to the airport terminal," the airline stated.
The incident forced Kenya Airways to cancel the return service, KQ785, as engineers began repairs on the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 registered as 5Y-CYC.
"As a result of this incident, we have cancelled the return flight KQ785 as our engineers and technical team work to get the aircraft fixed," the airline added.
The cancellation is expected to disrupt travel plans for passengers booked on the Cape Town-to-Nairobi service, with Kenya Airways saying it would contact affected customers directly to arrange further assistance.
The airline apologised for the inconvenience caused, while reiterating that passenger and crew safety remained its highest priority.
"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this incident has caused. We thank our customers for their patience, cooperation and support, and our crew for their professionalism. The safety and well-being of our crew and guests is always our top priority," the statement read.
Kenya Airways advised affected travellers to contact its Customer Excellence team for support as efforts continue to repair the aircraft.
The incident caused wider operational disruptions at Cape Town International Airport, with authorities confirming that arriving flights were temporarily diverted after the Kenya Airways aircraft suffered a tyre failure upon landing at around 3:25pm.
In a notice issued on Tuesday evening, the airport said the incident had affected runway operations, forcing inbound aircraft to land at alternative airports.
"Travellers are advised to contact the passenger service contact number on +27 21 937 1200 for the latest flight updates, including any delays or diversions, before travelling to the airport."
"Further updates will be provided as they become available," the statement added.
The airport noted that while domestic departures continued to operate as scheduled, wide-body departures were temporarily suspended until normal runway operations resumed.
Meanwhile, some affected passengers claimed the tyre burst occurred on the runway, prompting airport authorities to divert incoming flights to Johannesburg while crews worked to clear the affected area and restore normal operations.
Tyre Bursts & How Often They Happen
Aircraft tyre bursts are relatively uncommon, but they are a known occurrence in commercial aviation and are factored into aircraft design and safety procedures. Aircraft tyres operate under extremely high pressure—often between 180 and 220 psi—and endure heavy loads and intense heat during take-off and landing.
Tyre failures can result from excessive wear, foreign object damage, overheating caused by heavy braking, underinflation, overloading, or hard landings. In rare cases, debris on the runway can puncture a tyre.
Commercial aircraft are designed with multiple wheels on the main landing gear, allowing them to land and taxi safely even if one tyre fails.
Furthermore, flight crews are trained to respond to such incidents, while airports have established emergency procedures to inspect runways and clear debris before normal operations resume.
Although a tyre burst can lead to flight delays, runway closures, or aircraft inspections, it rarely poses a serious risk to passengers. Most incidents end without injuries, as aircraft are built with redundant safety systems and strict maintenance standards.
