Fight between Chinese nationals on flight forces Qatar plane to land at JKIA

A fight between two Chinese nationals forced a Qatar Airways flight to divert to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The plane was headed for Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday February 23 afternoon when the pilot reported he was diverting to JKIA for an emergency case.

On landing, it emerged a passenger had collapsed in the plane and needed medical attention.

This is after he was hit by a fellow passenger, who was Chinese in an altercation that turned violent.

It emerged one Tang Zhonglyu had been assaulted by fellow passenger Wei Dakang.

He collapsed in the plane forcing it’s landing at JKIA. The pilot reported he had an emergency case that warranted his landing at the airport.

The passenger was attended by medical teams at the airport and the said assailant removed and detained there, witnesses said.

The plane continued with the journey after waiting for almost an hour. It is not clear what prompted the fight.

The suspect was later taken to court and detained pending a hearing of the case and possible deportation.

At the same airport, a Sudanese national was arrested after an Ethiopian flight landed there on Sunday morning for smoking in the plane.

The suspect was accused of smoking in the plane’s lavatory against the law.

He was detained at the JKIA police station before being arraigned on Monday.

Officials say smoking is prohibited in the planes.

The plane had originated in Khartoum, Sudan through Ethiopia.

Such cases where passengers smoke in planes illegally are common despite there being rules against the same.

The passengers are usually punished for their actions.