164 passengers escape death as plane skids off runway

One hundred and sixty-four passengers were rescued on Tuesday as passenger plane operated by Pegasus Airline skidded off the runway in the Turkish city of Istanbul leading to the shutting down of the airport temporarily.

The Boeing 737-800 plane arriving Istanbul from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirate (UAE), skidded off the runway on Tuesday, causing suspension of flights at the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Istanbul’s second airport.

According to The National, a UAE newspaper, images from the scene saw emergency vehicles surrounding the plane, which was apparently stranded on the grass next to the runways.

All departures from the airport have been suspended, while the incident is dealt with. The DHA news agency reported passengers were evacuated by emergency slides.

Istanbul governor’s office said there were no deaths or injuries and all 164 passengers were safely evacuated, according to DHA.

Several planned departures have been cancelled and arrivals have been diverted to other airports.

The PC747 flight departed Sharjah at 5:15am and arrived in Istanbul on time. Storms and heavy rain have affected the city and transportation since Sunday night.

The official Anadolu news agency said the international airport will be closed until 12:20.

It is the latest incident of a flight coming off a runway to affect Pegasus Airlines, the low-cost airline, in Turkey.

In 2018, a Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway at Trabzon on the Black Sea coast and plunged down the side of a cliff overlooking the sea.

The 168 passengers and crew were evacuated safely.