Sparks Seen In Flight Engine, Turkish Airlines Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Kolkata; All 236 On Board S

A potentially serious aviation incident was averted on Wednesday afternoon after a Turkish Airlines passenger aircraft flying from Kathmandu to Istanbul reported a fire in one of its engines shortly after take-off.

Quick action by the flight crew and coordinated emergency procedures at multiple airports ensured that all passengers and crew members remained safe.

The incident briefly disrupted operations at Kathmandu airport and later led to an emergency landing in Kolkata, drawing attention to the importance of swift response systems in civil aviation.

Engine Fire Reported Minutes After Take-Off

The aircraft, operated by Turkish Airlines, was operating Flight THY 727 from Kathmandu to Istanbul. It took off from Tribhuvan International Airport at 1:28 pm local time.

According to airport officials, within four minutes of departure, the pilots noticed a fire in the aircraft's right engine. Teknath Sitaula, General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, confirmed that the issue developed almost immediately after take-off. Following standard emergency protocols, the pilots shut down the affected engine and diverted the aircraft away from Kathmandu city.

Airport Operations Temporarily Suspended in Kathmandu

After the engine fire was reported, the aircraft remained airborne for around ten minutes while the crew assessed the situation and coordinated with air traffic control.

As a precautionary measure, Tribhuvan International Airport was temporarily closed for about 15 minutes to ensure runway safety and readiness in case an immediate landing was required.

Airport authorities activated emergency services, and fire and rescue teams were placed on standby during this period. Normal operations resumed once it was clear that the aircraft would divert rather than return to Kathmandu.

Passengers and Aircraft Details

The aircraft involved was a wide-body Airbus A330-300. According to reports, there were 225 passengers on board along with 11 crew members, taking the total number of people on the flight to 236.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, passengers were kept calm as the crew followed emergency checklists. There were no reports of panic or injuries during the incident.
Emergency Landing in Kolkata

After diverting from its original route, the aircraft headed towards Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Before landing, the pilot informed Kolkata Air Traffic Control about the possible engine fire and requested emergency clearance.

The aircraft made a full emergency landing at 2:49 pm. Fire and rescue services were positioned along the runway as a standard safety measure. The plane landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked without incident.

An airport official in Kolkata confirmed that the situation was handled smoothly and that emergency protocols were followed as per aviation guidelines.

Post-Landing Inspection Underway

Following the safe landing, the aircraft was moved to a designated parking bay at the Kolkata airport. A detailed technical inspection is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the engine issue.

Airport authorities said the aircraft will remain grounded until engineers complete their checks and certify it as airworthy. Turkish Airlines is expected to make arrangements for passengers to continue their journey after necessary clearances are obtained.

Swift Response Prevents Major Incident

The incident highlights the effectiveness of emergency training and coordination between pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport authorities across countries. While engine-related warnings are treated as serious events in aviation, experts note that modern aircraft are designed to fly safely even with one engine shut down.

Thanks to timely decision-making and adherence to safety procedures, what could have been a major incident ended without any loss or injury.