Image via Twitter
Turkish Airlines flight TK1878, returning from Milan, Italy, made an emergency landing at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul after an engine caught fire, according to AFP.
Smoke and flame streamed from the right engine as the Airbus 320 touched down in view of the firefighters, and local NTV television. TV broadcasts of the conversation between control tower and pilot revealed a calm aviator, despite the emergency, according to AFP.
This incident temporarily closed Ataturk International, and flights were diverted to Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side of Istanbul.
"All 97 passengers have been taken to the terminal with no health issues. The reason for the incident will become clear after the investigation," Turkish Airlines spokesman Ali Genc wrote on Twitter.
Airlive.net reported that this landing was actually a second attempt, and that the first one may have damaged the right gear and wing, and set the engine on fire.
This is the latest in a string of emergencies for Turkish Airlines necessitating emergency landings or diversions. AFP cited a Dogan news agency report that said the same aircraft's cockpit window had shattered Thursday during a flight from the Frankfurt, Germany to Istanbul and the plane was cleared to fly out after the window was replaced.
Then earlier this month a Turkish Airlines passenger jet flying from the German city of Duesseldorf to Istanbul had to make an emergency landing in Nuremberg after a crack was seen in the cockpit window.
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