Transport and Communication Minister Brian Mushimba says he has received information that a Kenyan aircraft with seven people on board crash-landed this morning at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, forcing a closure of the runway.

A Lusaka bound passenger posted in the “Media and Sources” WhatsApp group complaining that they were stranded in South Africa following information that the runway at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport had been closed off.

“I am at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. Our flight is delayed and the information we are getting is that the runaway in Lusaka at KKIA is closed. I thought it would be interesting to know what’s happening that side. Because these guys here don’t know why it was closed,” asked the unidentified passenger at 12:55 hours.

In response to the inquiry seven minutes later, Minister Mushimba posted the information he had received from Zambia National Airports Corporation at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

“Good morning Hon Minister. Please be informed that a small aircraft, which is Kenyan registered (5Y BLA, BE200), with 7 people on board had under carriage problems and has landed on the belly at Kenneth Kaunda International airport. The runway is closed. Officers are trying to remove the aircraft from the runway,” Mushimba quotted the airport notice, adding “ that is information from airport corporation sent to me earlier.”

At about 13:08 hours, the Lusaka bound passenger confirmed that they were finally boarding at OR Tambo International Airport.