Fake Covid-19 Results Behind Flight Ban to Dubai

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has revealed that Dubai banned all passenger flights from Kenya because travelers from Nairobi were testing positive for Covid-19 after arrival in the city, despite them having negative test results.

According to Gilbert Kibe, the aviation regulator’s director-general, the project involved a couple of corrupt officials from the Ministry of Health who partnered with travelers to issue fake Covid-19 PCR results to aid travel to Dubai.

“They banned flights from Kenya due to many false negative Covid-19 PCR results. The Ministry of Health is investigating and will report findings soon. Several other African countries were red-listed as well,” said Mr. Kibe.

Mr. Kibe went on and noted that the UAE city had no option but to ban passenger flights from Kenya because since they could detect up to 20 false-negative Covid-19 tests.

On December 20, 2021, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) announced the 48-hour suspension on all flights from Kenya to the Middle East nation. Later on, Emirates Airline said it had extended the ban until further notice. However, the suspension did not affect cargo flights and passenger flights from Dubai to Nairobi.

Travelers from Africa to Dubai were required to issue a report on a rapid PCR test conducted at the departure airport six hours before leaving Dubai, under the new measures from UAE.