Plane Carrying 171 Passengers Splits Into Three After Skidding Off Runway In Istanbul

A plane flying into Sabiha Gökçen airport in Istanbul from Izmir skidded off the runway after landing and crashed on Wednesday, injuring 21 people in Turkey. 

Transport minister, Cahit Turhan said the plane split into three pieces after a rough landing, adding that there were no fatalities.

Istanbul governor, Ali Yerlikaya, said the plane was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members from Turkey’s western province of Izmir.

Emergency response teams had taken 21 people to hospital and evacuation efforts were continuing, Yerlikaya said.

Footage on Turkish media showed the split plane next to the runway as dozens of emergency response personnel were taking passengers out of the plane and carrying them away on stretchers.

Turkish Airlines also said in a statement that all its flights in and out of Sabiha Gökçen have been canceled on Wednesday.