Cape Town airport runway closed after plane's tyres fail, passengers safe
A Kenya Airways plane experienced a tyre failure upon landing at Cape Town International Airport, forcing the closure of the main runway. While all passengers were safely evacuated, the incident caused significant flight diversions and disruptions to international departures.
Why it matters
As the second-busiest airport in South Africa, the closure highlights critical vulnerabilities in regional aviation infrastructure and safety protocols.
The main runway at Cape Town International Airport was temporarily closed after a Kenya Airways plane's tyres failed on landing, but all passengers were safely taken off the plane, South Africa's airports operator said on Tuesday (August 4, 2026).
Airports Company South Africa said the tyre failure happened around 1525 local time (1325 GMT). As of 1800 local time the plane was still disabled on the runway, a spokesperson said.
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