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Dhaka: A main landing gear tire of a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 caught fire after landing at Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport on May 11, injuring two passengers and forcing a temporary closure of the airport.
The fire erupted at 06:34 local time. All 288 ocupants on board, including 11 crew members, were evacuated safely using emergency evacuation slides. Two passengers sustained minor finger injuries during the evacuation.
The aircraft came to a stop on Taxiway Bravo, with roughly 30 percent of the jet on the taxiway and the remaining 70 percent on the runway, forcing authorities to halt all domestic and international flights. The airport was closed for 98 minutes before flight operations resumed at 08:12.
Gyanendra Bhul, assistant spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, said preliminary findings suggest a tire on the right main landing gear caught fire. Possible causes include a hard landing, tire pressure issues, or other technical problems, though a detailed investigation remains ongoing.
Following the incident, the aircraft was grounded. A maintenance, repair, and overhaul team will conduct inspections at the airport, while the Civil Aviation Authority's Flight Safety Standard Department will carry out a separate inquiry.
Hotel arrangements have been made for affected passengers, and authorities are working to reroute urgent travelers on alternative flights. Turkish Airlines operates five weekly flights between Istanbul and Kathmandu.
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