Three dead, many injured as Turkish plane skids off runway

A plane flying into Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on Wednesday skidded off the runway while landing in rough weather and broke apart, killing three people and injuring 179, authorities in Turkey said.

Live images broadcast on Turkish television showed numerous people climbing through a large crack in the severed aircraft and escaping onto one of the wings at the rear.

The plane was apparently buffeted by strong winds and heavy rain lashing Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

Istanbul Govenor Ali Yerlikaya said the plane failed to “hold onto the runway” due to poor weather conditions and skidded some 50-60 metres before it dropped into the ditch from a height of about 30 metres.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that three people had died and 179 injured.

Images showed that the plane caught fire after it skidded off, which reports said was quickly extinguished by firefighters.