NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 6 – Kenya Airways has confirmed that one of its flights travelling from Nairobi to New York was forced to return to Nairobi after experiencing a technical malfunction while airborne over Chad.In a customer update issued by the airline, Kenya Airways said flight KQ002D encountered a spoiler malfunction on Saturday evening, prompting the crew to initiate precautionary safety procedures before deciding to turn the aircraft back to Nairobi for further technical assessment.According to the airline, the incident occurred at around 7:50 pm on Sunday, during the flight from Nairobi to New York.Kenya Airways stated that the crew followed all required safety protocols before making the decision to return the aircraft to Nairobi.“For the safety of our guests and crew onboard, the crew followed precautionary safety checks and elected to return to Nairobi for further technical evaluation by our teams,” the airline said.The aircraft was expected to land safely at 12:30 am, with the airline assuring passengers that their safety and that of the crew remained its top priority.The airline apologized to affected passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and confirmed that customers would be assisted with alternative travel arrangements on the next available flights.Kenya Airways explained that spoiler malfunctions, though rare, can occur in aviation operations and are manageable under established safety procedures.According to the airline, spoiler faults can increase drag and fuel consumption, but pilots are trained to safely handle such situations, including precautionary air turnbacks.The incident once again highlights the aviation industry’s strict adherence to safety protocols whenever technical concerns arise during flights.Kenya Airways emphasized that precautionary turnbacks are standard operational safety measures aimed at ensuring the well-being of passengers and crew members.The airline’s technical teams are expected to conduct a comprehensive inspection and evaluation of the aircraft before it resumes operations.