Kenya Airways' Maiden Direct Flight to the US Lands at the JFK International Airport in New York [VIDEO]
The historic Kenya Airways' inaugural nonstop flight to the United States has touched the ground at the JF Kennedy International Airport in New York.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (5Y-KZE) flight KQ002 christened "Magical Kenya" landed at the New York airport a few minutes past 2pm (East African Time) after it was delayed for 31 minutes.
The plane carrying 234 passengers left Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on Sunday at 2259 hours, cruising at 888 km/hour. The flight was flagged off by President Kenyatta, who didn't travel to the US as it was expected.
Traditional water salute @JFKairport to welcome @KenyaAirways first Direct flight from JKIA.#KQNBONYC #KQDirectFlight pic.twitter.com/1wTFLMQdbo
— Kenya Airways (@KenyaAirways) October 29, 2018
The aircraft was flown by Captain Joseph Kinuthia alongside co-pilot Eric Mbugua, assisted by Jobba Musa and Patrick Kipsambu. It also has a crew of 12 flight attendants.
Aboard the plane was a delegation of senior government officials led by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma as well as Kenya Airways bosses led by Chairman Micheal Joseph and CEO Sebastian Mikosz.
Other notable individuals on board were outgoing American Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec and CNN journalist Richard Quest.