On Feb 4th, 2026, a THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration TC-LNG, operating flight TK-727 from Kathmandu (Nepal) to Istanbul (Turkey) with 236 passengers and 11 crew on board, diverted shortly after departure following a serious engine-related warning during the climb.
The aircraft had departed Kathmandu’s runway 20 and was climbing out when the crew stopped the climb at 10,000 feet and entered a holding pattern. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the crew declared PAN PAN after receiving a fire indication on the right-hand engine (CF6). According to India’s Ministry for Civil Aviation, the situation was brought under control around 13 minutes later, but the crew elected not to continue the long-haul flight.
After holding for about 15 minutes, the crew decided to divert to Kolkata, India, climbing the aircraft to FL200 and proceeding on one engine. The Airbus landed safely on Kolkata’s runway 01R about 85 minutes after entering the hold near Kathmandu, with emergency services on standby. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Turkish Airlines later stated that the crew had received a technical warning related to the right-hand engine, prompting the precautionary diversion and shutdown.
As of approximately 10 hours after landing, the aircraft remained on the ground in Kolkata while technical inspections were ongoing, underscoring the cautious approach taken following any in-flight fire indication on a widebody aircraft operating in mountainous airspace.
