The disruption began shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time when two pilots reported what appeared to be drones in the vicinity of the airport, according to police.

In coordination with German air traffic control authorities, security officials ordered the temporary closure of the airport’s runways as a precautionary measure, a police spokesperson said.

Authorities deployed a police helicopter and emergency personnel to assess the situation and search the surrounding area for any potential aerial threat.

Airport operations resumed at 10:05 a.m. after investigators completed their initial assessment, airport officials said.

An airport spokesperson said an extensive search conducted by emergency services found no evidence of a threat to public safety, allowing normal flight movements to restart.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns among European aviation authorities regarding unauthorized drone activity near airports, where even unconfirmed sightings can trigger operational disruptions due to safety risks posed to commercial aircraft during takeoff and landing.

Munich Airport, one of Germany’s busiest aviation hubs, did not immediately provide details on the number of flights affected by the temporary suspension.

The Istanbul-to-Kathmandu flight ignited after sparks emerged from the aircraft’s right landing gear during landing, according to Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesman for Nepal’s civil aviation authority.

“All aboard are safe, the rescue part is over. We are now investigating the accident,” Bhul told AFP.The incident briefly disrupted operations at Nepal’s busiest international gateway, with the airport’s sole runway closed for nearly two hours before reopening later in the morning.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the extent of damage to the aircraft or specify the model involved in the incident.The accident renewed scrutiny of aviation safety in Nepal, a mountainous nation known for difficult flying conditions, remote airstrips and rapidly changing weather patterns that have challenged pilots and airlines for decades.

Nepal’s aviation sector has faced repeated criticism following a series of fatal crashes in recent years. The European Union continues to blacklist all Nepalese airlines from operating within EU airspace over safety concerns.

In response to mounting international pressure, Nepalese authorities last year announced plans to upgrade aviation infrastructure, including installing improved radar systems and enhanced weather-monitoring equipment.

Monday’s accident also revived memories of a previous runway incident involving Turkish Airlines in Kathmandu. In 2015, a Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 224 passengers skidded off the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport during landing.

No passengers were injured, but the disabled aircraft shut the airport for four days, triggering widespread international flight cancellations.