KATHMANDU: An emergency evacuation was carried out at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) this morning after a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Kathmandu experienced a landing gear fire.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:40 AM when a tire burst on the aircraft during landing, triggering a fire in the landing gear wheels. Airport emergency protocols were immediately activated as the aircraft came to a stop on the runway.
Thanks to the swift response of the flight crew and TIA’s emergency teams, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated with no casualties reported.
Fire and rescue units quickly contained the blaze, preventing further damage to the aircraft. Officials confirmed that coordination between the airline staff, air traffic control, and ground emergency responders was instrumental in ensuring passenger safety throughout the incident.
The runway remained temporarily blocked for about an hour while emergency operations and safety inspections were conducted. Following clearance from airport authorities, operations have now fully resumed and the runway is officially open.
Airport officials commended the TIA emergency response teams and airport operations staff for their professionalism and efficiency, noting that their swift action and coordination minimized disruption while prioritizing passenger safety.
