Flight operations were temporarily suspended at a major airport due to the closure caused by an incident involving a Turkish Airlines aircraft. The Tribhuvan International Airport had to shut down for 98 minutes on Monday, May 11, between 6.34am and 8.12am. The incident, where a fire broke out in the right main landing gear of the aircraft, led to the closure.
The aircraft’s wide-body section was stranded on Taxiway Bravo, with the remaining part of the plane on the runway, prompting authorities to stop all domestic and international flights. The total number of individuals on board was 288, which included 11 crew members, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
Initial findings indicated that a tyre on the right main landing gear of the aircraft caught fire. Potential reasons for the fire included a rough landing, issues with tyre pressure, or other technical malfunctions, according to officials. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides, with two passengers sustaining minor finger injuries.
The aircraft is currently grounded for ongoing technical inspections, and accommodations have been arranged for passengers set to depart from Kathmandu. Urgent travelers will be rerouted on alternative flights. A maintenance team will conduct investigations at the airport, while the Flight Safety Standard Department of the Civil Aviation Authority will conduct a thorough inquiry.
