A Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737 arriving from İzmir skidded beyond the runway at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport on 5 February 2020 and broke into several sections.
A fatal runway overrun
The aircraft crossed the end of the wet runway and fell down an embankment. Turkey’s health minister said three people died and 179 were injured. Emergency crews evacuated passengers from the damaged fuselage while the airport temporarily suspended operations.
Investigators examined the approach, weather, braking and communication between the flight crew and air traffic control. A preliminary report later raised questions about guidance and the crew’s response. The accident became Pegasus Airlines’ first fatal crash.
Why it mattered
This event formed part of Turkey’s political, security, economic or social record in 2020 and continued to shape public debate beyond the immediate news cycle.
Sources
Featured image is illustrative and credited in the media attachment; it is not presented as an image of the event.
Mehmut is a scholar, author and political commentator specializing in relations between Turkey and the European Union. He earned his PhD in the United States, where his doctoral research examined the political, diplomatic and institutional dimensions of EU–Turkey relations.
Throughout his academic and professional career, Mehmut has written numerous articles addressing Turkey’s relationship with Europe, democratic development, social justice, political reform and the country’s changing role in regional and international affairs. His work combines academic analysis with a strong interest in the practical challenges confronting Turkish society.
Mehmut is committed to promoting a democratic, secular and socially just Turkey founded on equality, human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law. He advocates peaceful political participation, accountable public institutions and policies that protect workers, disadvantaged communities and citizens from every section of society.
Through his research and writing, Mehmut seeks to contribute to informed public debate about Turkey’s future. He believes that meaningful democratic reform, social solidarity and constructive engagement with Europe can help Turkey build a fairer, more inclusive and more prosperous society.
Mehmut Naser
Zeynep Aziz
