Plane carrying 171 passengers splits into three pieces after skidding off runway

[Edoman]

Plane carrying 171 passengers splits into three pieces after skidding off runway in Istanbul (Photos/Video)






A plane flying into Sabiha Gökçen airport in Istanbul from Izmir skidded off the runway after landing and crashed on Wednesday, injuring 21 people in Turkey. 

Transport minister, Cahit Turhan said the plane split into three pieces after a rough landing, adding that there were no fatalities.
 

Istanbul governor, Ali Yerlikaya, said the plane was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members from Turkey’s western province of Izmir.

Emergency response teams had taken 21 people to hospital and evacuation efforts were continuing, Yerlikaya said.

Footage on Turkish media showed the split plane next to the runway as dozens of emergency response personnel were taking passengers out of the plane and carrying them away on stretchers.

Turkish Airlines also said in a statement that all its flights in and out of Sabiha Gökçen have been canceled on Wednesday.



Watch the video below. 

[Edoman]

Update: Three people confirmed dead with many injured after plane skids off runway and breaks into pieces in Istanbul






Three people have been confirmed dead with many injured after a Turkish plane skidded off the runway after landing, and crashed on Wednesday, February, 5. 
 
The Boeing 737 operated by Turkish Pegasus Airlines had flown into Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean port city of Izmir on Wednesday. 
 
According to NTV, the front of the plane including the cockpit was sliced off from the bulk of the fuselage, and another huge fissure separated the rear of the aircraft including the tail.
 
Three Turks were killed and 179 injured, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.
 
The plane was carrying 177 passengers and six crew members, state news agency Anadolu said. 
 
Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya said the plane "slid some 60 metres (200 feet)" after skidding off the runway, and then "fell about 30-40 metres" down a bank. He added that the accident, which he attributed to bad weather, "could have had more serious consequences", he said.
 
Footage from the scene showed the split plane next to the runway as dozens of emergency response personnel were bringing out passengers out of the plane. 
 
The Istanbul public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident.