A cargo plane traveling from Paris to Istanbul made a belly landing at Istanbul Airport due to a technical malfunction with its landing gear. Fortunately, there were no injuries or loss of life reported. The incident occurred this morning, causing temporary disruption at the airport.
Emergency Belly Landing
The cargo plane, a Boeing 767 operated by FedEx, experienced a problem with its landing gear, forcing it to make a belly landing at around 08:17 local time. As the plane landed, footage captured flames erupting from the fuselage. Despite the frightening scene, the pilots were able to land the plane successfully, thanks to coordination with air traffic control at Istanbul Airport.
Quick Response and No Injuries
Officials reported that the swift response from emergency crews ensured that there were no injuries or casualties. The airport’s rescue and firefighting teams (ARFF) were on standby and quickly responded to the scene, bringing the situation under control. Although the 16R runway was temporarily closed, all other runways and operations continued without major interruptions.
Statements from Authorities
Istanbul Airport operator İGA released a statement explaining that the landing occurred without the front landing gear due to a technical issue. The statement highlighted that immediate action by emergency teams prevented any loss of life. The airport’s rescue teams are currently working to move the plane to a safe location and reopen the closed runway.
İGA’s statement reads as follows: “On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 08:17, a FedEx cargo plane (flight FX6238) arriving from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport made a successful belly landing at İGA Istanbul Airport due to technical reasons, without deploying its front landing gear. The incident was controlled thanks to the prompt response of İGA’s rescue and firefighting teams, with no injuries reported. The 16R runway has been temporarily closed, but all other runways and operations continue as normal.”
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül also commented on the incident, emphasizing that the airport’s extensive infrastructure allows it to manage such events without significant disruption. “Istanbul Airport is one of the world’s most comprehensive and sophisticated airports. Any disruption on one runway does not affect overall operations; flights continue as usual,” he said.
Resuming Normal Operations
The airport authorities are now focusing on restoring full operations and ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew. The incident, though serious, demonstrated the effective coordination between pilots, air traffic control, and emergency response teams. Further investigation into the technical issue will be conducted to understand the cause of the landing gear failure.
Stay tuned to liteumsoft.net for more updates on this developing story and other aviation news.
