Another Passenger Dies Aboard a Kenya Airways Flight Heading to New York from Nairobi

Kenya Airways (KQ) has confirmed the death of another passenger aboard one of its flights heading to New York in the United States from Nairobi.

In a statement on Friday, the national airline said the passenger died from an unknown illness in the early morning hours aboard flight KQ002.

“Kenya Airways PLC (”KQ") confirms that on Friday, 2nd September 2022, at around 06:30 AM, KQ002, on a scheduled flight from Nairobi to New York, a passenger was found to be unresponsive,” read the statement.

The airline said attempts by the medical team to save the passenger's life were in vain as he was pronounced unresponsive after passing out.

“Upon further examination, medical personnel on board confirmed that the passenger had passed away. The flight had departed Nairobi per schedule on Thursday, 1st September 2022, at 11:55 PM,” Kenya Airways added.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and sincerely apologise to our passengers for the inconvenience.”

The incident comes a week after another passenger passed away aboard a KQ flight heading to Nairobi from New York on August 22nd.

Kenya Airways said the passenger fell ill mid-air, prompting the flight KQ003 to divert to Casablanca, Morocco for a medical emergency. The patient was pronounced dead upon arrival.

"On arrival in Casablanca, medical personnel at the airport found the passenger unresponsive and was confirmed to have passed away," said Kenya Airways.

The deceased was later identified as 66-year-old Peterson Njuguna Mwangi, a dual citizen of Kenya and the United States.

Mwangi is said to have developed breathing complications about seven hours after the plane left New York for Nairobi and efforts by attendants to administer first aid were fruitless, forcing the flight to make an emergency landing in Casablanca.

A family spokesperson told a local daily that Mwangi had been battling diabetes.

The plane arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi at 7:00 pm on Monday after an eight-hour delay. The deceased’s family was informed of the incident and collected the body from the airport.