Flight operations at Tribhuvan International Airport resumed 98 minutes after the airport was shut down on Monday morning following an incident involving a Turkish Airlines aircraft.

According to Gyanendra Bhul, assistant spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the airport was closed at 6:34am after a fire broke out in the aircraft’s right main landing gear. Flight operations resumed at 8:12am.

During the incident, the airline’s wide-body aircraft became stranded on Taxiway Bravo. Airport officials said around 30 percent of the aircraft remained on the taxiway while the remaining 70 percent was positioned on the runway, forcing authorities to halt all domestic and international flights.

A total of 288 people were on board the aircraft, including 11 crew members, according to the airport office. Preliminary information showed that a tyre on the aircraft’s right main landing gear had caught fire.

Officials said possible causes could include a hard landing, tyre pressure issues or other technical problems, although a detailed investigation is ongoing.

Bhul said passengers were evacuated safely using evacuation slides. According to information provided to the airport by the airline, two passengers sustained minor injuries to their fingers.

Following the incident, the aircraft has been grounded, and hotel arrangements have been made for passengers scheduled to depart from Kathmandu. Authorities are also preparing to send urgent travellers to their destinations on alternative flights.

The aircraft remains grounded while technical inspections continue. A maintenance, repair and overhaul team will investigate at the airport, while the Civil Aviation Authority’s Flight Safety Standard Department will also carry out a detailed inquiry.

“We have begun a detailed technical assessment of the incident,” Bhul said.

Turkish Airlines operates five weekly flights to Nepal from Istanbul.

The story has been updated.