Operations at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu are back to normal following a tense morning. Flight services were suspended for approximately 90 minutes today after a Turkish Airlines aircraft caught fire shortly after landing. While the incident caused significant disruption, authorities have confirmed that all passengers and crew members are safe.
The emergency unfolded at approximately 6:45 am on Monday when Turkish Airlines flight TK726, arriving from Istanbul, touched down on the runway. Witnesses reported seeing flames and thick smoke emanating from the aircraft’s right-side landing gear. The Airbus A330, carrying 273 passengers and 11 crew members, was brought to an immediate halt on the runway.
Airport emergency teams and fire engines responded within minutes, successfully extinguishing the blaze in the aircraft’s tyres. Following standard safety protocols, all 284 people on board were evacuated through emergency exits. While the majority of passengers were unharmed, airport officials noted that a few individuals sustained minor hand injuries during the slide evacuation.
The runway remained closed for nearly an hour and a half to allow for a comprehensive technical inspection and the removal of the aircraft. During this time, several incoming international flights were put on hold or diverted. Operations officially resumed at 8:30 am, with Air India and FlyDubai being the first carriers to land post-closure.
Acting General Manager of TIA, Teknath Sitaula, confirmed that the runway is now clear and flight movements have stabilized. A formal investigation into the cause of the fire—preliminarily linked to a potential brake system anomaly or tyre burst—is currently underway by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.