Tire Burst Sparks Fire on Turkish Airlines Flight During Landing in Kathmandu

A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul experienced a tire blowout upon landing at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday, triggering a fire in the wheel area. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely as a precaution, with no injuries reported.

The incident occurred when the Airbus A330 touched down under normal conditions. Witnesses described a loud bang as one of the tires burst, followed by smoke and flames near the landing gear. Airport emergency crews responded quickly, and passengers were taken off the plane via slides.

Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Ustun confirmed that everyone on board was unharmed. “The evacuation was a standard safety measure. We have assigned a replacement aircraft for the return flight,” he said in a statement.

Authorities have grounded the affected plane for a full technical inspection. Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by a hydraulic line failure, which led to the tire burst and subsequent blaze. The exact cause remains under investigation.

Passengers were offered accommodations and rebooking options as the airline worked to minimize disruptions. The incident briefly heightened tensions at the airport, but operations resumed normally within hours.