Join
Shorts
Turkish Airlines Plane Evacuated After Smoke Seen From Landing Gear in Nepal: The Turkish Airlines aircraft was forced into an emergency evacuation on Monday morning following the discovery of smoke seen billowing from the landing gear as it was making its way to the airport after landing. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Incident
The incident occurred at around 6:45 AM local time, when the flight Istanbul-Kathmandu, known under the name of Turkish Airlines Flight TK726, arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport. The tyre of the Airbus A330 caught fire after landing, and the fire appeared in the right rear tyre of the aircraft.
As per Gyanendra Bhul, the assistant official for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the airport was shut at 6:34 am after a fire erupted in the central landing gear on the right, and flight operations resumed at 8:12 am.
Passengers and Crew Safely Evacuated
All passengers, including 11 crew members, were evacuated through emergency exits. No one was hurt, according to the aviation regulator as well as the airline. Passengers were safely evacuated using evacuation slides.
Airport Disruption
The wide-body aircraft was stranded at Taxiway Bravo. Airport officials said that approximately thirty per cent were on the taxiway, whereas the remainder were stationed on the runway, which forced airport officials to stop all flights, both international and domestic.
Airline and Authority Response
Turkish Airlines said smoke was seen on the landing gear as the plane was taxiing and that inspections of the technical aspects were initiated. In the words of Yahya Ustun, the airline’s vice president of operations, initial assessments suggest that the cause of the smoke was an issue with a hydraulic pipe.
The fire was put out as the aircraft was taken onto the taxiway, where it remained grounded, according to CAAN spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul.
Turkish Airlines Investigation Underway
‼️A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire near its landing gear while landing at Kathmandu Airport, prompting an emergency evacuation. No injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/f2dq0tvBMP
— The Caspian Post (@thecaspianpost) May 11, 2026
The official said that possible causes could be a hard landing, issues with tyre pressure, or any other technical issues, but a full investigation is in progress. Nepalese authorities in the field of aviation have begun an investigation into the incident and have technical inspection teams looking at the landing gear, tyre assembly, and brake mechanisms, as well as the relevant sensor data from the aircraft.
Turkish Airlines representatives confirmed that additional flights were scheduled to take passengers back home after safety checks had been confirmed.
Background
Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is known for its demanding flights, which are located in a high-altitude environment. The event has turned into a focus point for flight safety experts from around the world as well as international travelers, highlighting the safety issues for aviation in high-terrain airports.
The authorities have stated that the quick intervention of emergency services at airports has prevented any fatalities or serious injuries. They also said a thorough investigation will be conducted to prevent similar incidents in the near future.
