A Turkish Airlines passenger jet was evacuated at Nepal’s main international airport on Monday after smoke and fire were detected near the aircraft’s landing gear shortly after landing, airport and airline officials said.
The incident involved an Airbus A330 aircraft registered as TC-JNP, which had arrived at Kathmandu International Airport on a scheduled flight. According to Turkish Airlines senior vice president for communications Yahya Ustun, the aircraft landed safely on the runway before smoke was noticed coming from the landing gear area while the plane was taxiing.
Airport authorities immediately ordered an emergency evacuation as a precaution. Passengers exited the aircraft using emergency slides under the supervision of cabin crew and rescue personnel stationed at the airport.
Officials confirmed that all 277 passengers and 11 crew members on board were safely evacuated without injuries. Emergency response teams were quickly deployed to the scene to assess the situation and secure the aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said the airport temporarily suspended operations for around an hour while emergency teams responded to the incident and cleared the affected area. Flight movements resumed after safety inspections were completed.
Turkish Airlines stated that technical inspections had begun to determine the cause of the smoke and possible fire in the landing gear section. Initial reports indicated that the aircraft completed its landing normally before the issue emerged during taxiing.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show smoke rising from beneath the aircraft as emergency vehicles surrounded the plane on the tarmac. Passengers were seen leaving the aircraft calmly through inflatable evacuation slides.
The incident raised concerns over operational safety at Kathmandu International Airport, one of South Asia’s more challenging airports due to its mountainous surroundings and busy air traffic conditions. However, aviation authorities praised the quick response of flight crews and airport emergency teams for preventing injuries and managing the evacuation efficiently.
Turkish Airlines has not yet announced whether the aircraft sustained significant damage or when it may return to service. Engineers and aviation investigators are expected to carry out a detailed examination of the landing gear and braking systems in the coming days.
Passengers affected by the disruption were later assisted by airline staff at the airport terminal, while some onward flights experienced delays following the temporary closure of the runway.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
