Plane crashes after landing in Istanbul, 21 injured

Plane split into three pieces after a rough landing

ISTANBUL: A plane flying into Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport from Izmir skidded off the runway after landing and crashed on Wednesday, injuring 21 people, Turkish officials said.

The plane split into three pieces after what Transport Minister Cahit Turhan called a rough landing, adding that there were no fatalities. He said flights waiting to land in Sabiha Gokcen were diverted to Istanbul Airport.

#UPDATE

Istanbul airport aircraft breaks into two pieces with flames emitting from its fuselage

MORE: https://t.co/jiyEgCeceXpic.twitter.com/ma2Wf0KRTS

— RT (@RT_com) February 5, 2020

A spokesperson for Pegasus Airlines (PGSUS.IS) confirmed the crash but did not provide further details.

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 plane’s fuselage, as well as a section of it near the tail, had broken off. Passengers were being led out as the plane lay on a patch of grass next to the runway. Dozens of emergency response personnel were taking passengers out of the plane and carrying them away on stretchers.

Earlier footage showed part of the exterior of the plane had caught on fire, which Anadolu said was put out by firefighters.

Turkish Airlines (THYAO.IS) said it cancelled all its flight in and out of Sabiha Gokcen on Wednesday.