Dramatic landing at Nepal’s high-risk airport reignites aviation safety concerns after another Turkish Airlines emergency incident.
Webdesk – MediaBites News
A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul carrying 277 passengers and 11 crew members landed safely at Kathmandu’s international airport despite a fire breaking out in the aircraft’s right landing gear during touchdown.
According to airport officials, sparks emerging from the landing gear triggered the fire as the aircraft was landing at Tribhuvan International Airport. Emergency crews responded immediately, and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated without injuries.
The runway remained closed for nearly two hours as firefighters and technical teams worked to secure the aircraft and clear the area, temporarily disrupting airport operations.
The incident has once again highlighted the operational challenges faced by airlines flying into Nepal, where mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather, and high-altitude airports make operations particularly demanding.
Aviation experts noted that Kathmandu airport has long been considered one of the region’s more difficult airports for pilots due to the surrounding hills, rapidly changing visibility, and limited operational margins during takeoff and landing.
The latest emergency also revived memories of a similar 2015 Turkish Airlines runway accident in Kathmandu, when a Turkish Airlines aircraft skidded off the runway during landing, raising serious questions about aviation safety standards in Nepal.
Following repeated concerns about air safety, Nepali authorities have pledged to modernize aviation infrastructure, including upgrades to radar systems, navigation technology, and weather-monitoring facilities, to reduce operational risks for international carriers.
Officials said an investigation into the latest landing gear fire has been launched to determine the exact cause of the spark and assess whether additional safety measures may be required for future operations.
