Turkish Airlines Plane Catches Fire During Landing in Kathmandu; All 289 Evacuated Safely

A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members caught fire in its right main landing gear while touching down at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Monday morning. All 289 people on board were evacuated safely using emergency slides, and airport officials reported no serious injuries or fatalities.

The Details

Turkish Airlines Flight TK726, arriving from Istanbul, was landing at Nepal's sole international airport at approximately 6:45 a.m. local time (01:00 UTC) when the fire erupted from its right main landing gear. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, and emergency crews immediately responded to contain the blaze.

According to airport security official SP Rajkumar Silawal, speaking to ANI, fire engines were deployed and the flames were brought under control. "The aircraft with call sign TK726 was en route to Kathmandu from Istanbul, and the tyre had caught fire while landing. Using the fire engine, it has been contained. All the passengers are safely evacuated," Silawal said.

Among the passengers were United Nations personnel, according to reports from Indian media outlets that cited airport and airline sources. The exact number or identity of the UN staff on board has not been disclosed.

Tribhuvan International Airport, which operates on a single runway, temporarily suspended both domestic and international flight operations as a precautionary measure. The closure lasted approximately two hours. Normal operations resumed by 8:12 a.m. local time after safety checks were completed and the runway was cleared.

While the majority of sources, including the Associated Press, reported no injuries, one industry publication claimed that two passengers suffered minor injuries to their fingers. That report has not been corroborated by tier-one or official sources, and the injury count remains officially unresolved.

Context

Tribhuvan International Airport serves as Nepal's only international gateway, meaning any significant incident there has outsized consequences for the country's air traffic. The single-runway configuration amplifies the disruption, as all arrivals and departures must be halted while emergency teams respond and safety checks are carried out.

This is not the first time a Turkish Airlines aircraft has been involved in an incident at the same airport. In 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet skidded off the runway at Tribhuvan in dense fog, forcing an extended closure. No injuries were reported in that incident either.

What's Next

A full technical investigation has been initiated by aviation authorities, with preliminary focus on the right main landing gear assembly. The exact mechanical cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.

An official statement from Turkish Airlines was not available in the immediate aftermath of the incident. The identity and number of United Nations personnel on board also remain unspecified. Investigators are expected to examine the landing gear, braking systems, and tire condition as part of their inquiry.