Horror at Kathmandu Airport as Turkish Airlines Plane Bursts Into Flames
Panic erupted at Nepal’s Kathmandu airport on Monday after a Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers caught fire while attempting to land, forcing emergency responders into action.
The aircraft, which departed from Istanbul with 277 passengers and 11 crew members onboard, reportedly burst into flames after sparks were detected in the plane’s right landing gear during landing procedures.
According to Gyanendra Bhul, spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, every passenger and crew member aboard the flight escaped unharmed despite the frightening incident.
“All aboard are safe, the rescue part is over. We are now investigating the accident,” Bhul told AFP.
The fire incident temporarily shut down Kathmandu airport’s only runway for nearly two hours on Monday morning before operations later resumed.
Nepal is widely known for operating some of the world’s most difficult airports and runways, surrounded by mountainous terrain and snow-covered peaks that continue to test even highly experienced pilots.
The country’s aviation sector has faced growing scrutiny in recent years following multiple air accidents and the European Union’s decision to blacklist all Nepalese airlines. In response, Nepalese authorities last year announced plans to introduce upgraded radar and weather-monitoring systems.
This is not the first Turkish Airlines incident in Kathmandu. In 2015, another Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 224 passengers skidded off the runway at the same airport.
Although no lives were lost in that accident, the incident forced the closure of the runway for four days and disrupted dozens of international flights.
