Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul catches fire while landing at Kathmandu airport

A Turkish Airlines aircraft caught fire while landing at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Monday morning, temporarily disrupting international flight operations at Nepal’s busiest airport. Officials said all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely after the fire broke out during touchdown on the runway.

The aircraft, identified as Turkish Airlines flight TK726, had arrived in Kathmandu from Istanbul. According to airport authorities, the incident occurred at around 6:36 am to 6:45 am when one of the aircraft’s rear tyres caught fire while landing. Fire engines were immediately deployed to the runway, and emergency teams brought the blaze under control shortly afterward.

Officials said there were 277 passengers and 11 crew members on board the aircraft at the time of the incident. Emergency doors were opened for evacuation, and some passengers reportedly suffered minor injuries during the rescue operation. Authorities also confirmed that the aircraft was carrying cargo and human remains. Some United Nations officials were reportedly among the passengers.

Following the incident, the aircraft remained stranded on the runway, forcing authorities to suspend flight operations at Tribhuvan International Airport for nearly two hours. Several incoming international flights were placed on hold in Kathmandu airspace during the temporary closure. These included flights operated by Air India, Air Arabia, Drukair, flydubai, and Nepal Airlines arriving from multiple international destinations. Normal flight operations resumed after around 8:30 am.

Airport authorities and Nepal’s Civil Aviation officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Videos circulating on social media showed smoke and flames near the aircraft as emergency crews rushed toward the runway during the landing operation. Turkish Airlines currently operates five weekly flights between Istanbul and Kathmandu.