Kathmandu | Aviation News 

A scheduled long-haul flight of Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Kathmandu was forced to divert to Dhaka after a technical issue was detected during the landing phase at Nepal’s only international gateway.

According to officials at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Flight TK726 — operated by an Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft — was expected to land in Kathmandu at 11:10 AM local time on Wednesday. However, while preparing for descent and landing, the crew identified a technical concern and opted to divert the aircraft as a precautionary safety measure.

The flight was subsequently rerouted to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where it landed safely a short time later.

Airport authorities confirmed that the diversion was initiated in line with standard international aviation safety protocols. While the exact nature of the technical issue has not yet been publicly disclosed, officials emphasized that such decisions are taken strictly to ensure passenger and crew safety.

All passengers and crew members are reported to be safe. The aircraft is currently undergoing technical inspection in Dhaka before any further operational decision is made.

Flight Details at a Glance:

• Airline: Turkish Airlines

• Flight Number: TK726

• Route: Istanbul – Kathmandu

• Aircraft Type: Airbus A330 (Wide-Body)

• Scheduled Arrival: 11:10 AM (Local Time)

• Diversion Airport: Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Status: Landed Safely

 

The unexpected diversion caused minor scheduling adjustments at Tribhuvan International Airport, but airport operations continued normally. Passengers are expected to receive updates from the airline regarding onward arrangements.

Turkish Airlines operates regular long-haul services connecting Nepal to Europe via Istanbul, playing a significant role in international passenger traffic to and from Kathmandu.