Turkish Airlines Flight Evacuated After Landing Gear Fire in Kathmandu
Incident at Tribhuvan International Airport
Photo: @ians_india/X
Kathmandu, May 11: A Turkish Airlines flight experienced a fire in its landing gear while landing at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Monday morning, but all passengers were safely evacuated, according to a senior official from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
The incident occurred around 6:35 a.m. when flames erupted from the rear landing gear of the aircraft arriving from Istanbul, prompting immediate evacuation protocols.
Gyanendra Bhul, the information officer at CAAN, confirmed that passengers were safely escorted to the terminal following the evacuation. He also noted that the luggage from the Turkish Airlines flight was successfully unloaded.
The aircraft was carrying 288 individuals, all of whom are reported safe.
Flight operations were temporarily halted due to the incident.
"The aircraft has been relocated to the airport bay, and normal operations have resumed," Bhul stated.
Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene after sparks and flames were detected in the landing gear, successfully extinguishing the fire with fire engines. Passengers were evacuated using emergency exits.
In the aftermath, the aircraft has been grounded, and accommodations have been arranged for passengers who were set to depart from Kathmandu. Authorities are also making arrangements to transport urgent passengers to their destinations via other flights.
As per TIA officials, the aircraft remains grounded and is currently undergoing a technical inspection. The Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) team is set to conduct an investigation at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Additionally, the Flight Safety Department of the Civil Aviation Authority will perform a thorough investigation into the incident. "We have initiated a comprehensive technical analysis of the situation," assistant spokesperson Bhul remarked.
Turkish Airlines operates five flights weekly to Nepal, linking the nation with Europe, the United States, and Canada, and is recognized as a significant long-haul airline based in Europe serving Nepal.
Previously, on March 4, 2015, Turkish Airlines was involved in an incident at TIA that caused significant damage to the aircraft, although there were no casualties. The plane had skidded off the runway and onto the grassy shoulder after losing control during landing.