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.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement that emergency teams were deployed to contain the blaze after the attack targeted airport fuel infrastructure. Firefighting units were working at the site, and no injuries had been reported.

The incident comes amid heightened regional instability linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has raised concerns over the security of critical infrastructure across the Gulf.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and Kuwaiti authorities did not provide further details on the origin of the drones or the extent of the damage.