A Boeing-767 type cargo plane operated by FedEx ran into a couple of bumps and sparks as it attempted to land at Istanbul Airport in Turkey without its front landing gear Wednesday.
The official said airport officials sprang into action and assisted the aircraft in touching down, while managing to remain on the runway. Emergency response, medical teams and necessary fire extinguishing equipment was also deployed on standby, Uraloğlu said.
Video footage from the landing shows the plane touching down on the runway before it tilts forward and starts dragging on its nose the runway creating a cloud of dust and sparks. It eventually comes to a stop with its fuselage touching the ground. As the plane comes to a halt, fire trucks douse the plane with water.
“With the successful guidance of our staff, the aircraft landed smoothly on its fuselage,” Uraloğlu said.
No injuries reported
Two pilots were onboard the aircraft, according to Uraloğlu’s statement, and were medically assessed after the landing. No injuries were reported.
The runway where the plane had landed was temporarily closed for all flights as multiple agencies gathered on site. A video shared by the minister shows crews and officials gathered around the aircraft while a fire truck and ambulance are parked on the side.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, said Uraloğlu without going into further details into why the landing gear had failed.
