A Turkish Airlines jet was safely evacuated at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Monday after smoke was detected coming from its landing gear.
The airline reported that the aircraft, an Airbus A330 arriving from Istanbul, had 277 passengers and 11 crew members on board. Passengers were evacuated via slides as a safety precaution.
Earlier reports from an airport official suggested that the right landing gear had caught fire. However, Turkish Airlines clarified that no fire occurred, attributing the smoke to a malfunction in the hydraulic system.
Yahya Üstün, a company official, stated, "The evacuation process was completed successfully and no injuries were reported." He added that technical inspections of the aircraft were underway.
The airport was temporarily closed but reopened nearly two hours later, allowing flights to resume on schedule. An additional flight is planned for the return journey of the passengers.
Nepal has a history of aviation challenges due to its mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather. In 2015, a Turkish Airlines plane skidded off a wet runway in Kathmandu, but no injuries were reported.
Safety measures and quick response from emergency crews have been crucial in ensuring the well-being of passengers during such incidents.