National
Turkish Airlines Plane Evacuated After Tyre Burst and Smoke Incident at Kathmandu Airport
By Ranjeet Yadav • 5/11/2026, 12:09:11 PM
Reading time: 3 min
11 May Kathmandu A Turkish Airlines plane with nearly 300 people on board was evacuated at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport after smoke and fire were seen coming from the landing gear shortly after it landed on Sunday morning.
The incident occurred as the plane was taxiing after a safe landing from Istanbul, Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) said. Officials say smoke was seen coming from the area of the right rear landing gear and the airport went into emergency response mode.
✈️Emergency Evacuation Carried Out
The Airbus A330 aircraft was carrying--
-277 pax
- 11 crew, 4 passenger cabins
All passengers and crew aboard were evacuated safely via emergency exits and authorities confirmed there were no reports of injuries.
Airport emergency teams responded to the situation and extinguished the fire before it spread.
🔥 What Was The Cause Of The Incident?
Initial reports from Nepal’s aviation authorities said the aircraft had caught fire in the right rear tyre area after landing.
Turkish Airlines later said initial inspections indicated the smoke was caused by a technical problem with a hydraulic pipe rather than a serious engine fire.
Technical teams have begun detailed inspections to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.
🛬 Kathmandu Airport Closed Temporarily
Kathmandu airport has only one runway and the Tribhuvan International Airport temporarily suspended its operations after the incident.
Several inbound flights were delayed or held as a result:
– Emergency crews cleared the runway
- Conducted safety inspections
- The aircraft was towed to a taxiway
Authorities later confirmed the runway was safe for flights and airport operations resumed.
⚠️ Turkish Airlines had similar incidents in the past
This is not the first operational emergency involving Turkish Airlines flights related to Kathmandu.
Earlier in Feb 2026:
- A Turkish Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing in Kolkata after reports of fire in the right engine shortly after take-off.
2015:
- Another Turkish Airlines A330 has gone off the runway on landing at Tribhuvan International Airport in bad weather.
🌍 Safety of Aviation in Nepal
Nepal’s aviation sector often draws international attention because:
- Rugged mountain terrain
- Abrupt changes in weather
- Challenging airport terrain
Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal’s busiest airport, has long struggled with congestion and operational constraints because of its single runway system.
Aviation officials emphasized the emergency evacuation was carried out successfully and professionally despite the dramatic nature of Sunday’s incident.
📌 Summary
The Turkish Airlines emergency in Kathmandu ended with no injuries, but the incident once again highlighted operational and safety challenges surrounding international aviation in Nepal.
Technical investigations by authorities and airline technicians into the exact cause of the smoke and tyre-related malfunction are still being carried out.
Tags: Turkish Airlines, Kathmandu Airport, Nepal Aviation, Tribhuvan International Airport, Aircraft Emergency
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