Plane nearly falls into sea after skidding off runway in Turkey

ANKARA: A passenger plane with 168 passengers onboard skidded off the runway in Trabzon, Turkey on Saturday, coming within feet of plunging into the Black Sea.

All 168 passengers, along with the crew and captain, were safely evacuated, with only three reports of minor injuries. The plane was a Pegasus Boeing 737, and reports from the area say it took extensive damage in the accident.

Images show the aircraft on its belly and at an acute angle just above the water. If it had slid any further along the slope, the plane would have likely plunged into the Black Sea in the Turkish province of Trabzon.

The flight was arriving from Ankara, the capital city in Turkey. According to The Aviation Herald, the plane touched down on the runway at around 11:26 p.m. local time. As soon as the landing gear made contact with the ground, the whole aircraft veered left, leaving the runway and tumbling down a slope towards the water.

 

Pics via Turkish Air News

When the plane finally stopped sliding, it was reportedly 60 meters away from the runway and 60 meters from the runway’s end.

Emergency services arrived on the scene at once, and took the three passengers with minor injuries to the hospital for treatment.

In the morning, news outlets and photographers showed up to document the amazing sight. The plane was still sitting on the embankment where it ended up the night before, precariously facing into the sea.