A Turkish Airlines flight arriving from Istanbul experienced an emergency landing situation at Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu after one of its landing gear wheels caught fire upon touchdown on May 10th, Sunday. Airport authorities confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control and all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft without injuries.
The aircraft, operating as Turkish Airlines flight TK726, was carrying 278 passengers along with 11 crew members at the time of the incident. Officials stated that several United Nations personnel were also among those onboard. Emergency response teams stationed at the airport reacted immediately after smoke and flames were noticed from the aircraft’s landing gear area during landing operations.
Airport security official SP Rajkumar Silawal said firefighters used airport fire engines to contain the blaze within minutes after the aircraft landed. He confirmed that the evacuation process was completed safely and that all passengers were escorted away from the aircraft as a precautionary measure. Videos circulating on social media showed passengers exiting the aircraft and emergency vehicles surrounding the plane on the runway.
Authorities have not yet announced the exact cause of the landing gear fire, and no official statement has been released by either Turkish Airlines or Kathmandu airport management regarding the technical issue.
Aviation officials are expected to conduct a detailed inspection of the aircraft to determine whether the incident was caused by mechanical failure, overheating, or another operational factor during landing.
The incident has renewed attention on previous aviation emergencies involving the same airline at Kathmandu airport. In 2015, another Turkish Airlines aircraft operating the same Istanbul-to-Kathmandu route skidded off the runway during landing in poor weather conditions. That aircraft, an Airbus A330 carrying 224 people, veered into the grassy area beside the runway after reportedly missing the runway center line during final approach in heavy fog. Although no injuries were reported in that incident, the airport remained closed for four days while recovery operations were carried out.
Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s main international aviation hub, is known for its challenging terrain and weather conditions, particularly during periods of low visibility. Aviation authorities have frequently emphasized the importance of strict landing procedures and rapid emergency response capabilities at the airport.
Sunday’s incident ended without casualties, but it has once again highlighted concerns surrounding aviation safety, emergency preparedness, and operational risks associated with busy international flight routes into Kathmandu.
