Boeing cargo plane crashes in Istanbul due to landing gear failure

Photo : Reuters

A dramatic video has captured the harrowing moment a Boeing 767 cargo plane crashed during its landing at Istanbul Airport after its landing gear malfunctioned. The aircraft, operated by the American postal company FedEx, was en route from Paris to Istanbul when the incident occurred on Wednesday morning, as reported by Metro.

The footage shared on X shows the plane making an emergency landing, forcefully touching down on the runway and dragging its nose along the concrete surface. Prompt response from the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Service teams, dispatched to the scene, ensured the situation was swiftly brought under control, as Turkish media outlets reported. Fortunately, all crew members evacuated the aircraft safely, and there were no reported injuries.

Turkey's Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure revealed that the pilot had informed Istanbul Airport's air traffic control (ATC) about the front landing gear's failure to deploy. The ministry has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident.

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As a precautionary measure, the runway where the cargo plane crash-landed has been temporarily closed, though other runways at the airport remain operational without interruption, according to the airport operator IGA.

In a statement, IGA Istanbul Airport highlighted the prompt intervention of its Rescue and Fire Fighting team, ensuring no loss of life during the controlled landing on the fuselage. Efforts are underway to relocate the aircraft to a safe area and reopen the runway for flight operations.

This incident adds to the scrutiny Boeing has faced following a series of similar incidents. Recently, a Boeing whistleblower, who had raised concerns about manufacturing defects in the 737 Max, passed away under mysterious circumstances. In another unfortunate event earlier this year, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Portland after its door panel blew off mid-flight.