Kenya Airways fuel emergency
 

Does anyone have more info on the 737 that had to divert to Mombasa because of low fuel while on an India to Nairobi flight this morning?

KQ plane from India runs out of fuel, makes emergency landing at Moi International Airport


The Kenya Airways plane that had to make an emergency landing at Moi International Airport in Mombasa on October 20, 2014.
In Summary
• The plane was set to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport but had to be diverted to Mombasa.
• The aircraft developed low fuel midair with its reserves unable to cover the Nairobi distance so it was diverted here to refuel.

A Kenya Airways plane with 38 passengers on board from Delhi, India, had to make an emergency landing at Moi International Airport in Mombasa on Monday.
The plane was set to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport but had to be diverted to Mombasa.
The initial explanation given was that the aircraft had run out of fuel.
The airline's incoming Chief Executive however explained in a subsequent statement that the plane had developed a mechanical fault in the fuel control system mid-air.
"The aircraft developed a mechanical fault in the fuel control system and although it had enough fuel, it needed to land at the nearest alternate airport.
"This was also a precautionary measure as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport airspace was closed for Mashujaa day celebrations at the time it was to land in Nairobi," a statement by Mr . Mbuvi Ngunze said.
The Boeing 737- 700 carrying 38 passengers was due to arrive in Nairobi at 12.20pm.
Moi International Airport manager Mr Yatich Kangogo had earlier said the plane landed safely in Mombasa at 12.07 pm.
He said the plane had departed from Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi, India, before it run out of fuel. He said it was diverted to Mombasa as it is nearer than JKIA.
"The aircraft developed low fuel mid-air, with its reserves unable to cover the Nairobi distance, so it was diverted here to refuel," Mr Kangogo said.
He said all the passengers on board the KQ Boeing 737-800 plane were safe.

That's the official story - make of it what you will. Perhaps a factor was that the Nairobi airspace was closed at the KQ ETA due to public holiday celebratory fly pasts?

Pretty long sector for a 737.

Great Circle Mapper suggests:
DEL - NBO 3363
DEL - MBA 3354

Not really that long. 73's are ETOPS and I regularly fly 2500 mile sectors. U have to run the APU during ETOPS operations. The -700 flies from canada to Ireland almost daily with a Canuck operator. It's not as cool as a 75/76 but it pays the bills.

From Avherald:

A Kenya Airways Boeing 737-700, registration 5Y-KQG performing flight KQ-221 from Delhi (India) to Nairobi (Kenya) with 38 passengers, was enroute near Mombasa (Kenya) when the crew decided to divert to Mombasa due to a problem with the fuel system. The aircraft landed safely in Mombasa.

The airline confirmed the aircraft diverted to Mombasa following a mechanical problem with the fuel system even though the aircraft had sufficient fuel on board.

Interesting, for just part of the sector? For operational reasons or ETOPS regs?

For the portion of the flight that's more than one hour from a suitable airport.

kenya airways fuel emergency
 

I have flown on this sector on Kenya Airways Boeing 737-700 with relatively high loads of 80+ pax.
Not a problem for the aircraft but most likely on its outer limits especially given the variable prevailing trade winds. The route taken from Nairobi-Delhi (e.g. Nairobi-Mogadishu and the lengthy Somali Coast-Indian Ocean hop of three hours-Mumbai-turn to Delhi OR Nairobi-Ethiopia-Eritrea-Red Sea-Oman-Karachi-Delhi) may be completely different on the return. The flight lasts approximately 7 hrs. The diversion to Mombasa indeed occurred during a public holiday and the ETA Nairobi may have been at the same time as a military flypast at the occasion. Note that KQ's summer schedule factors in monsoon conditions on the sub-continent.

NB: Very uncomfortable last hour for economy class Pax as one of the only two toilets Economy Class toilets may get blocked and be out of service and there shall be some agitated pax. One Hot meal and snack served. Enough Alcohol. Overhead movie shown mostly an Indian movie with sub-titles. Moving map may at times not function but interesting enough for enthusiasts.