A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 was evacuated Monday after a fire broke out in its landing gear during arrival in Nepal [1].
The incident highlights the critical nature of emergency evacuation protocols in high-traffic international hubs, where rapid response is essential to prevent casualties during mechanical failures.
The aircraft landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on May 11, 2026 [1]. Upon landing, a tyre on the right landing gear ignited, resulting in fire and smoke [2, 3].
Airport officials said the fire prompted an immediate emergency response. All passengers and crew members exited the aircraft using emergency slides [1, 4]. There were 277 passengers on board the flight [2].
No injuries were reported following the evacuation [2, 4]. The aircraft remained on the tarmac as teams worked to secure the site. Reports on the initial hazard varied slightly, with some sources describing the sighting of smoke while others specified a tyre fire [3, 2].
Officials said the fire was the primary reason for the decision to evacuate the plane via slides rather than taxiing to a gate [2, 3]. The aircraft is an Airbus A330, a wide-body jet typically used for long-haul flights [1].
“All passengers and crew members exited the aircraft using emergency slides”
The successful evacuation of 277 passengers without injury demonstrates the effectiveness of crew training and airport emergency readiness. Landing gear fires are often caused by friction or brake overheating, and the use of emergency slides in this instance suggests that the crew prioritized rapid egress over the risk of fire spreading to the fuselage.
