FedEx Boeing 767 Lands Without Front Gear in Istanbul
A FedEx Airlines cargo plane experienced a harrowing landing at Istanbul Airport on Wednesday when it touched down without its front landing gear, according to a Turkish Transport Ministry official. The Boeing 767, arriving from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, was forced to make the emergency landing after its landing gear failed to deploy.
Control tower personnel at Istanbul directed the landing after the pilot reported the malfunction. Despite the potential danger, the aircraft managed to stay on the runway, avoiding any injuries to the crew. Airport rescue and firefighting teams were on standby and quickly responded, although there was no ensuing fire.
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The aircraft, almost a decade old, is a commonly used Boeing 767 freighter, a model that stems from the passenger version first introduced in the 1980s. Ministry officials are now investigating the cause of the gear failure, examining the aircraft at the scene.
FedEx, in coordination with the investigation authorities, stated that it would release further information as it becomes available. Video footage from the scene showed the plane generating sparks and smoke as it slid along the runway, finally stopping with the help of firefighting foam.
This incident follows a similar situation in June of the previous year when a Delta Airlines Boeing 717 also landed without its nose gear in Charlotte, North Carolina. That incident was attributed to a mechanical failure.
While the runway was temporarily closed, other runways at Istanbul Airport continued to operate, minimizing disruption to air traffic. Boeing, which has faced scrutiny following incidents with its 737 models, did not comment directly on this incident, referring all inquiries to FedEx.
