Sequence & Resolution
Event Date05/11/2026
Level
Serious Incident
CategorySmoke Indication
Flight PhaseTaxi
Technical Issue Details
•The Airbus A330-343 (TC-JNP) was performing flight TK726 from Istanbul (IST) to Kathmandu (KTM) with 288 occupants on board.
•Following a normal landing on runway 02, while taxiing toward the terminal, smoke and flames were spotted coming from the right-hand main landing gear.
•The smoke was later attributed to a technical malfunction involving a hydraulic line leak.
Outcome / Handling
•Air traffic control alerted the flight crew of the smoke, prompting an immediate evacuation on high-speed turnoff B.
•The emergency slides were deployed, and all 277 passengers and 11 crew members evacuated the aircraft.
•Two people sustained minor injuries as a result of the evacuation.
•The aircraft stopped with only 30% of the fuselage clear of the runway, while 70% remained within the runway area, halting all airport operations.
Current Status
•The airport's single runway was closed for approximately 100 minutes to clear the aircraft, causing major flight disruptions.
•The return flight TK727 was cancelled due to the incident.
•Turkish Airlines reported that initial inspections pointed to a technical malfunction in a hydraulic pipe leak.
•The aircraft was towed to a hangar for detailed technical inspection and maintenance.
Sourcekathmandupost.com
Flight Information
Flight NumberTK726
Landing Runway02 (KTM)