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Three dead in Turkish Pegasus Airlines crash at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport

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Geoffrey ThomasThe West Australian
VideoOne person has died and 120 others injured after a passenger jet crash landed and split in three on a runway in Istanbul

At least three passengers have died and 179 have been injured after a Turkish Pegasus Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 crashed on landing during a thunderstorm.

Incredibly the 737 landed nearly two thirds of the way down a 3km runway and overran the strip at 116km/hr and hit a wall.

It appears that pilots accepted a tailwind of up to 25kts (46km/hr) and that would have been a major factor in he crash.

Flight PC2193 from Izmir to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport had 171 passengers and six crew on board.

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The plane landed nearly two thirds of the way down the runway before skidding through to the end and into a perimeter wall.
Camera IconThe plane landed nearly two thirds of the way down the runway before skidding through to the end and into a perimeter wall. Credit: Burak Kara/Getty Images

It landed on runway six at 6.20pm local time.

Sabiha Gokcen is a secondary airport with one runway and not the new Istanbul's Airport which has four.

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It has been reported that Istanbul's governor said 120 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including all six crew members.

One later died.

The airline later took to Twitter to confirm the incident:

"The Pegasus Airlines flight PC2193, on a TC-IZK registered aircraft, flying from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport today (5 February 2020), experienced a runway excursion after landing at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport."

Rescue members and firefighters work after Pegasus Airlines plane skidded off the runway at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Camera IconRescue members and firefighters work after Pegasus Airlines plane skidded off the runway at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Credit: Burak Kara/Getty Images

It went on to add:

"We will continue to provide further information with regards to the incident."

Aviation Herald says that "according to Mode-S data transmitted by the aircraft, the 737 landed “long and hot.”

“It touched down an incredible 1950 meters (6400 feet) past the threshold (start of the runway) and just about 1000 meters (3300 feet) before the runway end,” it reported.

“The 737 overran the end of the runway at about 63 knots (116km/hr) over ground veering slightly to the left (last transponder transmission), hit a localizer antenna and went over an airport road and a cliff and impacted the airport perimeter wall.”

Scores of passengers were injured when the plane broke apart, with one confirmed fatality.
Camera IconScores of passengers were injured when the plane broke apart, with one confirmed fatality. Credit: Burak Kara/Getty Images

According to Aviation Herald last month there was a similar incident with "a Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration TC-CCK performing flight PC-747 from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (Turkey) with 164 people on board.

"It landed on Sabiha Gokcen Airport's runway 6 at 09.09am but shortly after touchdown veered left and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground off the left runway edge about 1000 meters/3330 feet down the runway.

“The aircraft was evacuated via slides. There were no injuries, the damage to the aircraft is being assessed."

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