Kenya Airways E190s collide during maintenance mishap

Two Kenya Airways Embraer 190s have been badly damaged during a ground collision following a mishap during maintenance. The airline states that the accident occurred at night on 8 February, during a routine engine maintenance check at a Nairobi airport hangar. One of the aircraft – for reasons yet to become clear – began to move, and collided with another of the same type. Neither aircraft was in operation at the time, says Kenya Airways, and “no passengers were involved”. It adds that none of the maintenance personnel suffered injuries during the accident. Images circulating on social media purporting to show the scene of the collision identify the aircraft as 5Y-KYR and 5Y-FFF. The geometry of the aircraft in the photographs indicates that 5Y-KYR struck the nose of the other jet, knocking off its radome, and came to rest with its forward fuselage crumpled and pierced. The starboard General Electric CF34 engine of -KYR also rammed the forward fuselage of -FFF. Both aircraft have received “substantial damage”, says the carrier, and been withdrawn from service pending examination. The airline has not indicated whether either aircraft was occupied by crew or maintenance personnel at the time of the accident.<br/>