A Turkish Airlines aircraft caught fire in its right landing-gear tyre while landing at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Monday [1].

The incident underscores the critical nature of rapid emergency response in aviation, as a tyre fire during the landing roll can quickly escalate into a catastrophic hull loss if not contained.

The event occurred around 6:45 a.m. [2]. Flight TK 726 was carrying 277 passengers, including four children [3, 4]. Upon landing, a fire ignited in the right landing-gear tyre, prompting an immediate emergency evacuation of the aircraft [1, 5].

Airport staff and fire crews responded to the scene to extinguish the flames and secure the area. All passengers and crew members were evacuated safely, and officials said there were zero injuries [1, 6].

Following the emergency, the runway was closed to accommodate the response and ensure safety protocols were met [7]. The exact cause of the tyre ignition was not detailed in initial reports [1, 5].

Turkish Airlines and airport authorities managed the evacuation process to ensure that all 277 people on board exited the plane without incident [3]. The coordinated effort between the pilot and the ground-based emergency teams prevented the fire from spreading to the main fuselage.

“All passengers were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.”

The successful evacuation of nearly 300 people without injury demonstrates the effectiveness of current aviation safety protocols and the rapid response capabilities of Tribhuvan International Airport. While tyre fires are a known risk during high-friction landings, the closure of the runway indicates the severity of the immediate hazard and the necessity of thorough inspections before resuming commercial operations.