Turkish Airlines Jet Evacuated After Fire at Kathmandu Airport

A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul was dramatically evacuated at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday after fire and smoke were seen around the aircraft’s landing gear following touchdown, prompting a temporary shutdown of Nepal’s busiest airport but causing no injuries among the hundreds of people on board.

Fire Erupts on Arrival of Flight TK726

Publicly available information identifies the aircraft as Turkish Airlines flight TK726, an Airbus A330 arriving in Kathmandu from Istanbul on the morning of 11 May 2026. Reports indicate that the wide body jet landed normally before smoke and flames were observed near the right main landing gear as it slowed on the runway and began taxiing.

Accounts from local and international media describe a rapid response on the tarmac, with airport fire and rescue teams moving in as the aircraft came to a halt on the single runway used for international operations. Visuals circulating on news platforms show plumes of smoke rising from the right side landing gear area, consistent with overheating wheels and brakes.

Published coverage states that there were around 277 passengers on board, along with a crew of 11. The fire was brought under control shortly after the aircraft stopped, and there have been no reports of injuries to passengers, crew members, or ground personnel.

Preliminary descriptions characterize the event as a ground incident rather than an in flight emergency, with the aircraft already on the runway when the problem developed. Aviation observers note that such incidents often involve intense braking or technical issues in the landing gear system, though the exact cause has not yet been detailed in publicly available documents.

Runway Closure Disrupts Traffic at Nepal’s Main Gateway

The incident triggered a full closure of Tribhuvan International Airport for more than an hour, with some outlets citing a shutdown lasting close to 90 minutes while responders extinguished the fire and inspected the pavement. As the country’s primary international gateway and home to its only major international runway, any interruption at Tribhuvan can quickly ripple through regional air traffic.

Several flights bound for Kathmandu were reportedly placed in holding patterns or diverted to nearby airports while the disabled Turkish Airlines aircraft remained on the runway. Domestic departures and arrivals were also affected, with airlines advising passengers to expect knock on delays throughout the day as operations gradually resumed.

Airport authorities began reopening the runway after the aircraft was secured and towed from the active landing strip. Publicly available flight tracking data and local media reports suggest that regular operations were restored in stages, prioritizing aircraft that had been circling in the vicinity or burning extra fuel while waiting for clearance to land.

The disruption underscores the vulnerability of single runway airports that serve as national hubs. With no parallel runway available, even relatively contained incidents can halt movements and complicate air traffic management during peak morning and evening banks of international arrivals.

Evacuation Slides Deployed, All Occupants Safe

Reports indicate that the crew ordered an emergency evacuation once the aircraft came to a stop and the fire risk around the landing gear became apparent. Evacuation slides were deployed, and passengers exited onto the tarmac in keeping with standard safety procedures for a suspected fire on board or in the immediate vicinity of an aircraft’s structure.

Video and photographs shared in news coverage show passengers leaving the aircraft by slide and assembling at a safe distance as fire crews worked around the right wing and landing gear area. The orderly nature of the evacuation, with no serious injuries reported, is being highlighted by aviation commentators as an example of how regular safety drills and training can limit harm even in sudden high stress situations.

Publicly available statements from the airline emphasize that all passengers and crew from flight TK726 were safely evacuated and transported to the terminal after the incident. The aircraft is reported to have sustained localized damage to the landing gear and possibly surrounding systems, and it is expected to remain grounded in Kathmandu pending inspection.

Passengers from the flight are expected to face significant onward travel disruption, as the aircraft involved is a long haul wide body that typically continues on to other destinations. Media reports suggest that Turkish Airlines is arranging alternative connections and accommodations, although detailed rebooking information has not been widely published.

Recent Safety Focus on Kathmandu’s Challenging Operations

The fire on landing comes against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of aviation safety in Nepal, where challenging mountain terrain, variable weather, and a relatively short single international runway contribute to operational complexity. Tribhuvan International Airport has been the site of several major accidents and incidents over the past decade, involving both domestic and international carriers.

International agencies and aviation analysts frequently point to Kathmandu as an airport that demands specialized training, particularly for wide body aircraft operating at high altitude and in rapidly changing meteorological conditions. The safe outcome of the Turkish Airlines incident, despite the dramatic visuals of fire and smoke, is being noted in coverage that contrasts it with previous tragedies in the region.

The event also arrives only a few months after another Turkish Airlines flight linked to Kathmandu made headlines for a separate emergency involving an engine fire indication and diversion to Kolkata. Observers stress that while these incidents draw intense attention, modern commercial aviation safety records remain strong, and each occurrence can contribute data that improves procedures and technical safeguards.

Regulators and investigators in Nepal and abroad are expected to review aircraft data, maintenance records, and crew reports to determine what triggered the apparent landing gear overheating and fire on TK726. At this stage, public reports do not indicate any broader safety directive affecting other Turkish Airlines flights or Airbus A330 operations.

Investigations Underway and Operational Questions Ahead

Formal investigations typically follow a standard pattern in such events, beginning with securing the aircraft, downloading flight data and cockpit voice recordings, and interviewing crew and relevant ground staff. Publicly accessible guidance from aviation authorities indicates that attention is likely to focus on the braking system, tire condition, and any potential anomalies in hydraulic or electronic controls linked to the landing gear.

Maintenance histories and recent technical reports for the specific Airbus A330 involved will also be of interest to investigators. Analysts frequently examine whether runway conditions, including surface temperature and friction at the time of landing, could have contributed to overheating in the wheel and brake assemblies.

From an operational perspective, the closure of Tribhuvan International Airport following the incident is expected to feed into ongoing debates about infrastructure resilience in one of South Asia’s most tourism dependent economies. Aviation experts and business groups have long discussed the need for expanded capacity, upgraded emergency facilities, and alternative international gateways to reduce the impact of single runway disruptions.

For now, publicly available information suggests that Turkish Airlines services to and from Kathmandu have resumed or are in the process of normalization, with industry observers watching closely for any schedule changes, equipment substitutions, or updated guidance while the investigation into flight TK726 continues.