Turkish Airlines Jet Erupts in Flames on Landing in Kathmandu
Kathmandu-Turkish Airlines passenger aircraft carrying 277 passengers and 11 crew members caught fire while landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday, forcing a temporary runway shutdown though all aboard escaped unharmed, Nepalese aviation authorities said.
The Istanbul-to-Kathmandu flight ignited after sparks emerged from the aircraft’s right landing gear during landing, according to Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesman for Nepal’s civil aviation authority.
“All aboard are safe, the rescue part is over. We are now investigating the accident,” Bhul told AFP.The incident briefly disrupted operations at Nepal’s busiest international gateway, with the airport’s sole runway closed for nearly two hours before reopening later in the morning.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the extent of damage to the aircraft or specify the model involved in the incident.The accident renewed scrutiny of aviation safety in Nepal, a mountainous nation known for difficult flying conditions, remote airstrips and rapidly changing weather patterns that have challenged pilots and airlines for decades.
Nepal’s aviation sector has faced repeated criticism following a series of fatal crashes in recent years. The European Union continues to blacklist all Nepalese airlines from operating within EU airspace over safety concerns.
In response to mounting international pressure, Nepalese authorities last year announced plans to upgrade aviation infrastructure, including installing improved radar systems and enhanced weather-monitoring equipment.
Monday’s accident also revived memories of a previous runway incident involving Turkish Airlines in Kathmandu. In 2015, a Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 224 passengers skidded off the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport during landing.
No passengers were injured, but the disabled aircraft shut the airport for four days, triggering widespread international flight cancellations.
