Ali Cevahir Akturk
March 12, 2020•Update: March 12, 2020
ISTANBUL
Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry on Wednesday released a preliminary report on passenger plane that skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport last month.
On Feb. 5, Pegasus Airlines flight PC2193 was arriving from Turkey's Aegean province of Izmir when it skidded off runway while landing at the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.
The pilot of the plane was arrested over negligence as three people died among the 177 passengers and six crew members on board.
The report by Transport Safety Investigation Center said that the lightning that struck the airplane six minutes before landing increased the pilots' stress level. This was because he wanted to land as soon as possible, and avoid any potential problems in the landing.
“It was understood that the pilots who received the landing permit applied the approach and landing procedures after making their preparations, and that the landing occurred properly, despite the deviation in the lowering route,” the report said.
It added: “The aircraft could not stop on the runway, it first crashed into the ILS antennas, then the guard booth and finally fell on the area about 30 meters deep from the runway head."
The aircraft body, the findings noted, broke into three pieces after hitting the concrete wall and wire fences surrounding the airport. Engines, landing gear, wings and some other parts were found to be broken.
*Writing by Burak Dag
