Kathmandu: A Turkish Airlines flight arriving from Istanbul triggered panic at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport after one of its tyres caught fire while landing on Sunday. Airport emergency teams acted swiftly to bring the situation under control and safely evacuate everyone on board.
According to airport security officials, the incident involved Turkish Airlines flight TK 726, which had just landed in Nepal’s capital when smoke and flames were noticed from the aircraft’s landing gear.
Firefighters stationed at the airport rushed to the runway and extinguished the blaze using specialised fire engines within minutes, preventing the fire from spreading further.
Senior police officials confirmed that all 278 passengers and 11 crew members onboard were safely evacuated without any injuries. The passenger list reportedly included several United Nations officials as well.
Authorities said the evacuation was carried out as a precautionary measure immediately after the fire was detected. Emergency response teams coordinated with airport staff to ensure passengers were moved to safety quickly and calmly.
Initial reports suggest the fire may have originated from excessive heat generated in the tyre assembly during touchdown, though the exact cause is yet to be established. Technical experts have begun inspecting the aircraft to determine what triggered the incident.
Airport operations were briefly affected as security and rescue personnel secured the area and conducted safety checks. Normal flight movement resumed after clearance was granted by aviation authorities.
Officials at Tribhuvan International Airport praised the prompt response of emergency crews, saying their quick action helped avoid a potentially serious mishap.
An official investigation has been launched, and Turkish Airlines is expected to cooperate with Nepal’s aviation authorities to assess the circumstances surrounding the landing incident.
