Turkish Airlines Plane Catches Fire During Landing in Kathmandu

A Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 277 passengers and 11 crew members caught fire while landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday, forcing an emergency response and the temporary closure of Nepal’s busiest airport.

Officials said all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

The flight had departed from Istanbul before the incident occurred shortly after landing in the Nepalese capital. According to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, sparks were seen coming from the aircraft’s right landing gear as it touched down on the runway.

Civil aviation authority spokesman Gyanendra Bhul said rescue teams responded immediately after the fire broke out.

“All aboard are safe, the rescue part is over. We are now investigating the accident,” Bhul told reporters.

Airport authorities said the incident led to the closure of the airport’s only runway for nearly two hours during the morning, disrupting several domestic and international flights before operations resumed later in the day.

The aircraft involved was identified as an Airbus A330 operated by Turkish Airlines. Emergency crews used foam and fire suppression equipment to contain the flames while passengers exited the plane using emergency procedures.

The incident has renewed attention on aviation safety in Nepal, a country known for its difficult flying conditions due to mountainous terrain and rapidly changing weather patterns. Many airports in the Himalayan nation are surrounded by steep valleys and snow-covered peaks, creating challenging landing conditions even for experienced pilots.

Nepal’s aviation industry has faced international scrutiny in recent years following a series of deadly crashes and safety concerns. The European Union continues to ban Nepalese airlines from operating within EU airspace over safety issues.

In response to past incidents, Nepalese authorities announced plans last year to improve aviation infrastructure through the installation of advanced radar systems and upgraded weather monitoring technology aimed at reducing risks for pilots and air traffic controllers.

Monday’s accident also brought back memories of another Turkish Airlines incident in Kathmandu in 2015, when a passenger aircraft carrying 224 people skidded off the runway while landing in poor visibility conditions. Although nobody was injured in that accident, the damaged aircraft blocked the runway for four days, causing major disruption to international travel.

Investigators are now examining the cause of the latest landing gear fire, including whether mechanical failure or overheating may have triggered the sparks. Officials said the aircraft will remain under inspection until safety checks are completed.

Turkish Airlines has not yet issued a detailed statement on the cause of the incident but confirmed that all passengers and crew members were unharmed.