Istanbul
A plane carrying 177 people skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather on Wednesday.
Officials said that no one had lost their lives in the accident, but 52 people were injured.
Live images broadcast on Turkish television showed several people climbing through a large crack in the severed aircraft and escaping onto one of the wings at the rear of the aircraft.
The Boeing 737 operated by Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines had flown into Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean port city of Izmir, NTV broadcaster reported. The plane was apparently buffeted by strong winds and heavy rain lashing Turkey’s largest city.
Fifty-two people were injured and taken to hospital, Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement on Twitter, but there were no deaths.
“Efforts to evacuate those affected continue,” he added.
Turkish media said the two pilots, a Turkish national and a South Korean, were seriously hurt.
Private television station NTV showed images of the badly damaged plane and flames inside, which were later put out by firefighters.
The plane had 171 passengers on board and six crew members, the governor said.
Turkish media said there were 12 children among the passengers.
“Some passengers evacuated the plane by themselves but others are stuck inside and our rescuers are working to free them,” Turhan said on CNN-Turk television.
After darkness fell, television footage showed dozens of rescue workers in high-visibility jackets surrounding the plane with flashlights.
Some sprayed water jets onto the severed body of the aircraft, while others could be seen climbing up onto the plane to comb through the cabin.–AP
