A cargo plane belonging to FedEx Express made a dramatic landing at Istanbul Airport on Wednesday, using only its back landing gear after its front gear failed to open. Social media footage captured the intense moment as the Boeing 767 touched down on the runway, sending sparks flying.
According to Turkey’s transport ministry, the pilots of the aircraft, which was on its final leg from Paris to Istanbul, alerted the traffic control tower about the malfunction. Despite the challenging circumstances, the pilots were able to safely land the plane with the guidance of the tower.
In preparation for the landing, the airport’s rescue and firefighting teams were immediately notified and able to make necessary preparations on the runway. Within 20 seconds of the plane coming to a stop, responders were on the scene spraying water on the tarmac and the aircraft.
Turkey’s transportation and infrastructure minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, reported that no one was injured in the incident and the crew was able to safely evacuate the plane. The runway where the landing took place remained closed while the aircraft was removed.
A spokesperson from FedEx stated, “FedEx Express Flight 6268, a Boeing 767, was en route from Paris, France to Istanbul, Turkey when it experienced an issue during landing Wednesday morning. There were no reported injuries to our crew members. We are coordinating with investigation authorities and will provide additional information as it is available.”
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Boeing aircraft, as the company has faced multiple crises this year. In January, a mid-air panel blowout on a 737 MAX plane prompted the company to overhaul its management. Additionally, a new investigation has been opened into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after the company revealed that employees had committed “misconduct” by falsely claiming tests had been completed.
At this time, Sky News has reached out to Boeing for comment on the incident. The cause of the landing gear failure is currently under investigation.
