Turkish Airlines plane skids off Nepal runway, passengers safe

All 227 passengers and 11 crew members of a Turkish Airlines flight had a lucky escape when their aircraft got damaged on landing at Kathmandu on Wednesday morning.

Updated on: Mar 4, 2015, 12:40:50 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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All 227 passengers and 11 crew members of a Turkish Airlines flight had a lucky escape when their aircraft got damaged on landing at Kathmandu on Wednesday morning.

The-damaged-Turkish-Airlines-flight-after-part-of-its-skidded-on-the-runway-after-landing-on-Wednesday-morning-in-Kathmandu-Photo-courtesy-myrepublica-com

The Airbus 330 (THY 726) on way from Istanbul to Kathmandu veered towards right on landing before coming to a halt near the fire station at Tribhuvan International Airport.

"The plane skidded uncontrollably after it touched down before coming to a halt. Some parts of the aircraft have got damaged and the plane is still disabled on the runway," said a duty officer at the airport.

He added that all passengers and crew members are safe and have been safely evacuated. Turkish Airlines officials however say that two passengers have sustained minor injuries.

All flights taking off and landing at the airport have been postponed indefinitely till the runway is cleared.

"The plane missed the runway on its first approach due to fog. As it was about to land on the second time there was fog again and the pilots had trouble making a smooth landing," said Sunil Thapa, an official with Turkish Airlines.

In December last year, a Jet Airways aircraft on way from Mumbai to Kathmandu was hit by a bird before landing. The rear part of the aircraft had caught fire, but pilots managed to land it safely and no one was injured.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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