A tense moment unfolded at Turkish Airlines when one of its aircraft experienced a landing gear fire shortly after touching down at Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal’s capital city.
The Airbus A330, arriving from Istanbul, safely landed in Kathmandu before smoke and fire were detected in the aircraft’s right rear tyre area. Airport authorities quickly responded to the emergency, temporarily shutting down airport operations for nearly an hour as emergency crews rushed to contain the situation.
All 277 passengers and 11 crew members were safely evacuated using emergency exits, with no injuries reported. The swift response from the cabin crew, airport emergency teams, and aviation authorities helped prevent the situation from escalating further.
According to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul, the fire originated from the aircraft’s right rear tyre area after landing. Fire crews successfully extinguished the blaze before the aircraft was moved to the taxiway, where it remains grounded for technical inspection.
Yahya Ustun, senior vice president of communications for Turkish Airlines, later shared that smoke had been observed from the landing gear during taxiing procedures. Initial inspections suggest the issue may have been linked to a technical malfunction involving a hydraulic pipe.
Despite the frightening experience, passengers were safely escorted out of the aircraft, highlighting the importance of strict aviation safety protocols and rapid emergency coordination. Turkish Airlines also confirmed that an additional flight would be arranged to assist affected passengers with their onward travel plans.
The incident briefly disrupted airport operations in Kathmandu, one of South Asia’s busiest mountain aviation hubs, but services resumed after emergency teams secured the area.
The event serves as another reminder of how critical aircraft maintenance, emergency preparedness, and crew training are in ensuring passenger safety during unexpected aviation incidents.
