Sandra Sonko, daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, has shared her frustration after spending about four hours inside a plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) without taking off.
Sandra said she boarded the aircraft at around 6am on Monday, August 31, as she prepared to travel back to the United Kingdom. However, the flight remained grounded as an aviation workers’ strike disrupted operations at the airport.
Speaking during a TikTok live session, Sandra told her friend that passengers had remained inside the aircraft for hours while waiting for the flight to receive clearance to depart.
She said the delay had become tiring and joked that passengers had not even been served some of the usual refreshments because the aircraft had not started moving.
“I have been in this plane since 6 in the morning,” Sandra said while explaining the situation.
She also showed part of the aircraft cabin and revealed that she was travelling in first class. Despite the comfortable surroundings, the prolonged wait appeared to have left her frustrated.
Sandra’s experience came as aviation workers at JKIA and other major airports across Kenya continued with industrial action, disrupting flights and leaving many travellers facing lengthy delays.
The strike began on Sunday, August 30, after members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) downed their tools over unresolved labour issues. The dispute has affected operations at JKIA as well as other airports, including those in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret.
Several flights have been delayed or cancelled, leaving passengers uncertain about their travel plans.
The disruption has also affected airlines operating through JKIA, with some passengers reporting delays lasting several hours.
For Sandra, the experience added an unexpected challenge to her journey back to the UK. Her complaint has since attracted attention online as more travellers share their experiences of the airport disruption.
The ongoing strike continues to place pressure on aviation authorities and airlines to restore normal operations and assist affected passengers.