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

• Reuters
• Reuters investigation follow-up

Featured image is illustrative and credited in the media attachment; it is not presented as an image of the event.