4IntermediateGeneralTechnology

Turkish Airlines Plane Evacuated After Fire in Nepal

A Turkish Airlines flight caught fire after landing in Kathmandu, Nepal. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The airport had to close for more than an hour.

1 min readLevel 4May 11, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

evacuated

/ɪˈvækjueɪtɪd/

verb

Moved people away from a dangerous place to keep them safe

“The building was evacuated after someone smelled smoke.”

flames

/fleɪmz/

noun

The bright, hot parts of a fire that you can see moving

“We could see flames coming from the kitchen window.”

suspended

/səˈspendɪd/

verb

Stopped something for a period of time, usually because of a problem

“The football match was suspended because of heavy rain.”

incident

/ˈɪnsɪdənt/

noun

An event that is unusual, serious, or sometimes dangerous

“The police are investigating the incident that happened last night.”

inspection

/ɪnˈspekʃən/

noun

A careful check or examination to find problems or make sure something is safe

“The car passed its safety inspection without any problems.”

affected

/əˈfektɪd/

adjective

Changed or influenced by something, usually in a negative way

“The affected families received help from the government.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

A scary moment happened at Nepal's main airport today. A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire after it landed. The flight, called TK726, was traveling from Istanbul, Turkey. Smoke and flames came from the right landing gear. Emergency teams rushed to the aircraft very quickly.

The plane was an Airbus A330 carrying many people. There were about 278 passengers and 11 crew members. Some United Nations officials were also on the flight. Airport firefighters used their equipment to stop the fire. All passengers left the plane through emergency exits safely.

The incident happened at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. This airport is Nepal's only international gateway for travelers. After the fire, the airport was shut down temporarily. Flights were suspended for about 98 minutes because of safety. This caused delays for many other travelers at the airport.

Turkish Airlines said technical inspections have already started. Investigators want to understand what caused the fire exactly. The airline has planned additional flights for affected passengers. Only two passengers had minor injuries to their fingers. This event shows why emergency training is so important.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
Where was the Turkish Airlines plane flying to?
2
What part of the plane caught fire?
3
How many people were on the plane in total?
4
What happened to the airport after the incident?
5
What did Turkish Airlines do for the passengers?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What happened to the Turkish Airlines plane after it landed?
2
How many passengers and crew members were on the flight?
3
Where did the fire start on the aircraft?
4
How long was the airport shut down after the incident?
5
What did Turkish Airlines do to help the affected passengers?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever experienced a scary moment while traveling?
2
How would you feel if you were a passenger on this flight?
3
Do you think flying is still the safest way to travel? Why?
4
What do you think airlines should do to prevent incidents like this?
5
Would this kind of news make you afraid to fly? Why or why not?