A Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 277 passengers and 11 crew members caught fire while landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday, though all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated without injuries.
According to Gyanendra Bhul, the Istanbul-bound flight experienced a spark in its right landing gear during landing, which triggered the fire incident.
The aircraft involved was identified as an Airbus A321 operated by Turkish Airlines.
“All aboard are safe, the rescue part is over. We are now investigating the accident,” Bhul said.
The incident temporarily disrupted operations at Kathmandu airport, forcing authorities to shut down the airport’s only runway for nearly two hours before it was later reopened.
Nepal is known for its challenging aviation conditions, with mountainous terrain and difficult runways that require highly skilled pilots to navigate safely.
In recent years, the country has faced increased scrutiny over aviation safety following several air accidents and the European Union’s blacklist on Nepalese airlines. Authorities have since announced plans to upgrade radar and weather-monitoring systems to improve aviation safety standards.
The incident also revived memories of a 2015 Turkish Airlines accident in Kathmandu, when another aircraft skidded off the runway carrying 224 passengers. Although there were no casualties, the accident forced the airport runway to close for four days and disrupted several international flights.
