The crew of Turkish Airlines flight TK727 reported a right-engine problem shortly after departing Kathmandu on Feb. 4. Local officials said the right engine reportedly 'caught fire' within minutes; the crew shut it down, held briefly to assess the situation and diverted. The Airbus A330-300 landed safely at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 2:48 p.m. after about 1 hour 34 minutes airborne. No injuries were reported and Turkish Airlines arranged onward travel for passengers.
Turkish Airlines A330 Diverts to Kolkata After Right Engine Reportedly 'Caught Fire' Minutes After Takeoff
The inside of a passenger planeSTEPHANE MOUCHMOUCHE/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty
A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300 operating flight TK727 from Kathmandu to Istanbul was forced to divert to Kolkata on Feb. 4 after the crew reported a problem with the right engine shortly after takeoff.
A Turkish Airlines planeKevin Carter/Getty
Flight-tracking service FlightAware shows the aircraft departed Tribhuvan International Airport at about 1:30 p.m. local time. Officials and local media report the crew observed a malfunction — described by some local sources as the right engine having 'caught fire' — within minutes of the initial climb.
The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India.Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times via Getty
Initial Response and In-Flight Actions
According to Gyanendra Bhul, deputy spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the pilot notified Kathmandu tower, held the aircraft briefly over the Dharke area of Dhading district to assess the situation, and continued flying on a single engine while following procedures. Tribhuvan Airport manager Teknath Sitaula told local media the right engine caught fire within four minutes of takeoff and was subsequently shut down by the crew.
Diversion and Landing
Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün confirmed on X that flight TK727 received a technical warning related to the right engine after departure and was diverted to Kolkata for checks. FlightAware data indicates the aircraft landed safely at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) at 2:48 p.m. local time after about 1 hour and 34 minutes in the air.
Passengers, Crew and Aftermath
The flight was carrying 225 passengers and 11 crew members. Turkish Airlines said a new flight arrangement was made so passengers could continue their journeys. Indian airport authorities reportedly conducted inspections after arrival, and there have been no reports of injuries.
"The aircraft continued on one engine while the crew assessed the situation and diverted as a precaution," a CAAN official said.
Safety Context
Twin-engine airliners such as the A330 are certified to continue flying on one engine in the event of an engine shutdown; crews are trained to follow specific procedures to protect the remaining engine and ensure a safe diversion and landing.
Sources: FlightAware, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Tribhuvan Airport officials, Turkish Airlines statement on X, local media reports.
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