Showers of praise rain on heroic KQ pilots
Two Kenyan pilots have earned national acclaim after successfully navigating the Storm Eunice ravaging Europe to land their aircraft at major airports in the UK and The Netherlands.
The pilots, Ruth Karauri and Clive Nyachieo dominated the debate on social media after beating all odds to successfully land their aircraft in Europe as the Storm Eunice ravaged the continent. Karauri landed flight KQ100, a Boeing 787 at London’s Heathrow Airport while Nyachieo navigated his to safety at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Karauri’s landing was documented by a live streaming service as planes landed amid the storm – which was viewed by millions of people.
Yesterday, Kenyans took to social media to celebrate them following the rare feat, with many saying the sky is the limit for our pilots.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma led the tributes, taking to the microblogging site to laud Ruth. She said: “Kudos, Ruth Karauri. You and the first officer are stars!”
UK’s High Commissioner Jane Mariott said on Twitter: “Hongera Capt. Ruth Karauri on the successful landing during Storm Eunice!”
Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge on the other hand said: “You have seen the videos of planes struggling to land at London Heathrow Airport on February 18 with Storm Eunice. The exception was KQ’s Capt Ruth Karauri, who landed the Boeing 787 like a boss! Congrats, Captain, and First Officer Ayoob Harunany.”
Captain Gad Kariuki, a seasoned pilot and chairman of Wilson Airport Aircraft Operators Committee wondered what the hullaballoo was about Karauri and Nyachieo’s exploits. “I do not know what all this hullaballoo is about. Are we saying that local pilots are incapable of landing aircraft in rough weather so that when they do, it becomes breaking news,?” he posed.
He continued: “I mean, these pilots are qualified to navigate any aircraft under any weather and when they were flying to Europe, they were aware of the storm, when we start celebrating the feat, we are suggesting that they achieved the unimaginable, which is not the case.”
Aviation sector
A day before the heroic landing, the UK meteorological service had issued a poor weather alert, warning that the winds would cause significant disruption, particularly in the aviation sector.
As other planes scheduled for landing at the Heathrow Airport delayed their touchdown time due to Storm Eunice, Karauri chose to exhibit courage and agility.
In an interview, she attributed her expertise to proper training at Kenya Airways. “There were strong, gusting winds at Heathrow Airport on Friday, February 18, and the ride was quite bumpy. However, the training I had at Kenya Airways, especially the flight simulator training, prepared me for such a scenario,” she told Kenya Airways in a video published on the airline’s Facebook page.
Karauri was at the cockpit with First Officer Ayoob Harunany during the touchdown at Heathrow on Friday. “Ayoob and I used all our training, expertise and skills acquired at Kenya Airways. That enabled us to land expertly,” she said.
Another celebrated KQ female pilot, Irene Koki Mutungi, said: “I am so proud of you Ruth Karauri! You handled it (challenging airport conditions) as ladies do. Girls fly.”
Karauri’s husband, Sportpesa CEO Ronald, also joined in the celebrations, lauding his wife for the feat.
