By Ebi Kesiena
Kenya Airways has dismissed a sensational news report alleging that a Kenyan pilot operated flights for the national carrier for eight years without a valid license.
The story, which was widely circulated on online blogs and social media platforms, alleged that the pilot had forged his credentials and managed to evade detection for almost a decade.
According to Kenya Airways, the story is fake news, and the public should ignore it.
In a statement on Saturday, the airline said that all its pilots and crew undergo very rigorous training, background, and security checks to ensure that they are qualified to operate.
The airline also said that it conducts further due diligence while vetting applicants, including verification of documents from the institution where an applicant attended training.
“KQ operates in a highly regulated environment with regular audits from a number of regulators across its network,” the statement read.
The airline added that all pilots’ licenses are issued and renewed annually by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), upon establishing that the holder has met required knowledge and experiences.
However, Kenya Airways assured its customers and stakeholders of its commitment to safety and quality standards.
