Drama and commotion arose at Kigali International airport yesterday after passengers realized that they may have to spend an identified amount of time at the airport before flying to their respective destinations.

More than 200 passengers who were waiting to board a Kenya airways plane that was coming from Burundi were on yesterday stranded at Kanombe after the plane reportedly developed mechanical problems. 

The plane which was carrying 100 passengers from Burundi was destined to pick another 200 in Kigali at 1:55 p.m before continuing to Nairobi and finally to Dubai.

Sources say that the plane hit an electric pole while landing and that they were waiting for engineers from Nairobi to rectify the problem.

Some of the stranded passengers were allocated different planes while Kenya Airways was securing accommodation from various hotels around Kigali.

One of the passengers who preferred anonymity said that the electricity poles are very near the run way and that with planes of that size, this was bound to happen.

However, some workers at the airport who also preferred anonymity said that Kenya Airways was likely to sue the airport for the accident allegedly caused by its (airport) poor guides. 

When The New Times tried to take photos of the incident, airport authorities prevented them despite having all the necessary documents from the High Media Council.

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