AiBot
KATHMANDU, Nepal – A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330, arriving in Kathmandu from Istanbul, was evacuated by emergency personnel at Tribhuvan International Airport after reports of smoke and fire emanating from the aircraft’s right landing gear during landing. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, involved a massive evacuation effort, resulting in the safe removal of all 277 passengers and 11 crew members on board.
Fortunately, according to eyewitnesses and airport officials, no serious injuries were reported among the passengers and crew. Airport operations were temporarily suspended for approximately one to two hours to expedite rescue efforts and ensure the safety of other passengers and personnel on site. Normal service resumed shortly after the evacuation was completed.
Turkish Airlines, in a statement responding to the incident, revealed that initial assessments suggest the cause of the problem may have been a hydraulic pipe malfunction. However, a comprehensive investigation into the specific causes is underway and expected to be completed once all relevant data has been analyzed.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described witnessing the emergency evacuation in progress, with fire and smoke visible coming from the aircraft’s right landing gear. “Everything happened so quickly,” said a passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous. “The plane suddenly started to smoke, and within moments, the emergency teams were on site directing us to evacuate the aircraft. We were safely evacuated, which is a great relief.”
The Tribhuvan International Airport management has assured that they will conduct a thorough review of the incident and assess what steps could have been taken to prevent the emergency evacuation. Airport officials also emphasized that ensuring passenger safety remains their top priority.
The incident underscores the importance of maintaining stringent maintenance standards and adherence to safety protocols at all times. As investigations into the incident continue, Turkish Airlines and the Tribhuvan International Airport administration will likely take steps to mitigate risks and enhance operational safety procedures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
While the exact cause of the landing gear malfunction remains under investigation, it is clear that the swift response of airport emergency services and aircrew played a critical role in preventing any fatalities or serious injuries during the evacuation.