Turkish authorities launch investigation against Boeing after accident at Istanbul Airport

Authorities in Türkiye have initiated a probe following an incident where a FedEx Boeing 767 cargo plane executed an emergency landing without its front landing gear at Istanbul Airport. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning, raising concerns but resulting in no injuries.

The plane arriving from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport faced a critical landing gear malfunction. According to a statement from Türkiye's Transportation Ministry, the pilots communicated with the Istanbul Airport control tower about the failed landing gear and managed a controlled touchdown on the main runway under tower guidance.

"Airport rescue and firefighting teams were prepared in advance of the landing," the ministry noted. Despite the precarious nature of the landing, which involved the plane's nose scraping the runway, no fire ensued, and all personnel aboard remained safe.

The ordeal ended with the aircraft being safely doused in firefighting foam, captured in video footage that showed sparks and smoke as the plane came to a stop.

The Boeing 767 involved, nearly a decade old and a variant of a model first introduced in the 1980s, is among the most commonly used freight aircraft globally. This type of incident is rare but not unprecedented. For instance, a Boeing 717 made a similar gearless landing in North Carolina last June due to a mechanical fault.

In response to the incident, FedEx has stated it is working closely with investigative authorities. "We are in coordination with the investigation authorities and will provide additional information as it becomes available," a FedEx spokesperson confirmed.

The runway where the incident occurred was temporarily closed, although other runways at Istanbul Airport continued to operate normally, ensuring minimal disruption to the overall airport traffic, according to IGA, the airport operator.

This incident adds to the challenges faced by Boeing, which has been under significant scrutiny after a series of issues with its smaller 737 models. 

Source: Newsroom