Pegasus flight PC2193 breaks into pieces following runway overrun

  5th Feb. 2020
The aircraft involved in the accident. Photo: © Anna Zvereva

A Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 on flight PC2193 has been destroyed after overrunning the runway at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (IATA: SAW).

Pictures show that the Boeing 737 broke into several pieces after landing at the airport at 6:19 pm local time.

The flight was operating from Izmir Airport (ADB), in southwestern Turkey.

There were 183 people on board, including six crew members. Many occupants were transported to hospitals. Three people were killed and 179 injured, according to Turkish officials.

It was raining heavily at the time of the accident. Weather reports also indicate that the aircraft had a strong tailwind which caused it to touch down very late.

Data from flight tracking sites show that PC2193 was unable to come to a stop on the wet runway. It still had a dangerously high speed of 63 knots (117 km/h) at the last tracked position, according to Flightradar24. After overrunning the runway at this speed, the plane came to rest in a ditch, some 30 meters (~100 ft) below the runway, according to reports.

It broke into several sections in the impact. Passengers with no or minor injuries were able to escape the wreck through the broken up fuselage. The cockpit section that had separated could be seen upside down in images. Both pilots are reportedly in a critical condition.

The aircraft involved was a 2009-built Boeing 737-800, registered as TC-IZK. It was initially delivered to now-defunct German airline Air Berlin and joined Pegasus’ fleet in May 2016.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport was shut down following the accident and incoming flights were diverted.

This is a developing story. Updates to follow.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Related Articles