Istanbul Airport: Boeing cargo plane drags across runway sending sparks flying
Emergency responders on the ground hosed down FedEx Express' Boeing 767 seconds after it landed.
Wednesday 8 May 2024 16:19, UK
A Boeing cargo plane has landed at Istanbul Airport without its front landing gear, sending sparks flying along the runway.
Social media footage on Wednesday showed the Boeing 767 belonging to FedEx Express using only its back landing gear to land, eventually dipping its nose onto the runway.
The video shows sparks coming off the runway as the plane drags across it.
The plane was on the last leg of its flight from Paris to Istanbul when its pilots informed the traffic control tower at Istanbul Airport that its landing gear failed to open, Turkey's transport ministry said.
The pilots landed the plane with guidance from the tower, the ministry said in a statement, adding the communications meant airport rescue and firefighting teams could make necessary preparations on the runway before landing.
Footage shows responders on the ground spraying water on the tarmac and at the plane within 20 seconds of it coming to a standstill.
No one was injured and the crew safely evacuated the aircraft, said Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkey's transportation and infrastructure minister.
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The runway where the plane landed remained closed off to other traffic while the aircraft was removed, he added.
A spokesperson from FedEx said: "FedEx Express Flight 6268, a Boeing 767, was en route from Paris, France to Istanbul, Turkey when it experienced an issue during landing Wednesday morning.
"There were no reported injuries to our crew members. We are coordinating with investigation authorities and will provide additional information as it is available."
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Sky News have contacted Boeing for comment.
Boeing decided to overhaul its management this year amid mounting pressure from airlines, regulators and investors as it grapples with a growing crisis following a mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane in January.
A fresh investigation has also been opened into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner - after the firm said several employees had committed "misconduct" by falsely claiming tests had been completed.