Flights to Kinshasa are suspended by Kenya Airways until the crew is released from military custody

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, military authorities are detaining employees of Kenya Airways.

With effect from April 30, 2024, Kenya Airways will no longer operate any flights to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as a result of its staff members being detained by the Military Intelligence Unit there. The airline finds it challenging to maintain operations in the nation of Central Africa as a result of the wrongful detention.

Kenya Airways announced last week that the Military Intelligence Unit, also known as Detection Militaire des Activities Anti Patrie (DEMIAP), had detained and arrested two of its employees at its Kinshasa N’Djili Airport (FIH). According to reports, they were lacking customs paperwork related to priceless cargo that was supposed to be flown by Kenya Airways.

Kenya Airlines is unable to adequately support its flights without personnel while they are being held by the military. Due to the crew’s detention, the airline is finding it difficult to oversee its cargo, ground handling, and customer service activities in Kinshasa and to maintain a secure, efficient, and safe environment.

The Kenyan national carrier requested in a statement issued by Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka for the compassionate and respectful treatment of its employees while they were being held unlawfully. All passengers who might have been impacted by the flight stoppage have also received an apology from Kenya Airways.

“We really regret any trouble that this circumstance may have caused to our consumers. We pledge to put both your safety and well-being and the wellbeing of our employees first.”

To facilitate the crew’s quick release, the airline is working with key government agencies in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as the investigating agencies. “We ask that the Military court’s direction that they be released to allow due process to be respected so that our innocent staff can return to their families and everyday lives without harassment,” said Kilavuka.

Kenya Airways issued a statement on April 26, 2024, confirming the two employees’ arrests. The “valuable cargo” was scheduled to be flown on April 12 by Kenya Airways. However, because the paperwork was not complete, the airline refused to accept or hoist the cargo. The crew’s phones were taken by military troops during the arrest, and the airline was unable to access them.

A few Kenya Airways staff members and representatives of the Kenyan Embassy in Kinshasa were granted permission to pay them a brief visit on April 23. The airline applied for the jailed employees’ unconditional release at a military court on April 24. On April 25, the court heard the case and granted the carrier’s request to release the employees so that due process could be followed. The civilians were held in military custody in an intelligence facility in defiance of the court orders.

Kenya Airways emphasized that because the logistics handler was still awaiting completion of the required paperwork, the cargo was not in its custody and was not on the air side for shipment. Moreover, the cargo was actually still being cleared by customs in the luggage section when the security team came and accused Kenya Airways of carrying it without proper clearance.

Every attempt to clarify to the military authorities why the airline had declined the cargo was met with silence. To make statements, the staff members were escorted to the air wing’s military section. They were kept incommunicado until teams from Kenya Airways and the Kenyan Embassy paid them a visit on April 23.

The airline would like to make it clear that, when it comes to cargo handling and transportation, it follows international best practices. As part of its “Ready for carriage” procedures, it adheres to stringent guidelines and compliance checks to guarantee that all cargo carried on its aircraft satisfies all legal requirements at all of its destinations. In the past, personnel of other airlines have been arrested and found guilty in some circumstances.