Turkish Airlines Flight Catches Fire in Tyre in Kathmandu: All on Board Safely Evacuated Using Slides

A Turkish Airlines ​plane was evacuated after smoke was observed from its landing gear while it was taxing after landing in Nepal's capital of ​Kathmandu, forcing the ​closure of the airport for an hour.

The ⁠Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had ​earlier said a fire broke out in ​the right rear tyre of the Airbus A330, which was doused before the plane was towed to ​the taxiway.

All 277 passengers and 11 ​crew on board were evacuated using the emergency exits, ⁠and nobody was injured, the aviation regulator and airline said.

Yahya Ustun, the airline's ​senior ⁠vice president, communications, said on social media platform X "Technical inspections of the aircraft have been initiated by our teams. Initial ​assessments indicate ​that ⁠the smoke was caused by a technical malfunction in a hydraulic ​pipe." 

He added that an additional flight has been planned ⁠for ​the return of the passengers.

According to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul, emergency doors were opened to evacuate passengers from the aircraft using slides.

The fire was later brought under control with the help of fire engines 

Source: Reuters