Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb 4: A Turkish Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday after the pilot reported a possible engine fire mid-air. The aircraft, Flight THY-727, had departed from Kathmandu, Nepal, en route to Istanbul, Turkey, carrying 236 passengers along with the pilot and crew members.

The pilot noticed signs of a mechanical malfunction shortly after take-off and suspected that the right engine had caught fire. Acting swiftly, he contacted Kolkata Airport’s Air Traffic Control and requested permission for an emergency landing. The aircraft touched down safely at 2:49 p.m., and all passengers and crew were reported safe, though passengers experienced panic during the incident.

Airport authorities confirmed that the aircraft is currently being inspected, with the engine under examination. Arrangements are being made to transport the passengers to Istanbul on a replacement flight. Turkish Airlines has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the emergency landing.

This incident follows a series of recent aviation accidents in India, raising safety concerns. Last June, an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off, killing 260 people. Just days ago, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar died along with four others when his private plane crashed while landing at Baramati. These events have intensified scrutiny over air travel safety in the country.