Ready to be both astonished and terrified at once? Plane spotters have captured and shared shocking images of an aircraft hanging from the side of a cliff after it skidded off the runway.
Wish we could say these images of the fully-loaded plane were doctored, but according to reports, they’re very much real.
So how did the Pegasus Airlines aircraft end up literally hanging down off a cliff?
https://twitter.com/AnalystTK/status/952450620627222528
Well, the Boeing 737-800 aircraft was coming in to land at Turkey’s Trabzon Airport when it ended up skidding and halting cliffside.
Losing its balance, the plane tilted and ended up halfway down the cliff and with its nose staring down at the Black Sea.
In a social media update, Pegasus Airlines described the event as a “runway excursion incident” but assured that everyone on board (162 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew) disembarked safely.
https://twitter.com/AnalystTK/status/952481394088869888
“We’re sorry to report that the Boeing 737-800 type TC-CPF registered aircraft of Pegasus Airlines Flight Number PC 8622 Ankara-Trabzon flight scheduled at 18:25 UTC tonight, had a Runway Excursion Incident during landing at Trabzon Airport (13 January 2018),” the statement read.
“All 162 passengers, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew have been disembarked safely from the aircraft. There has been no loss of life or injury to anyone on-board.”
Pegasus Airlines
A passenger told media that guests were panicked by the incident, particularly when the smell of fuel leaked on board.
“People panicked — there were pregnant women and children,” the Pegasus Airlines guest said.
Whoa that #PegasusAirlines landing. Fantastic everyone was able to walk away. Always wear your seatbelts folks.
— Carol (@pinkgodzilla2) January 14, 2018
Another traveller described the incident as a “miracle” as they could have “burned. exploded or gone into the sea”.
Meanwhile, social media users have taken a light approach to the situation, by comparing the shocking images to acts of nature.
Among them is Caroline who says she sees a giraffe going for a drink in the river…
Maybe just me but does this crash not remind you of a Giraffe going for a drink in a river ? A Boeing 737-800 suffered a runway excursion while landing at Trabzon Airport, Turkey & went off a cliff. All passengers & crew survived #PC8622 #PegasusAirlines pic.twitter.com/v9WQr2Rz1G
— Caroline Kere (@carolinekere) January 14, 2018
While a trainee pilot compared it to a theme park water ride…
https://twitter.com/pilot_skyhigh/status/952564664038146049
And this user acknowledged Pegasus Airlines’ new route taking travellers “direct to the beach”…
@flymepegasus Pegasus airlines will now take you directly to the beach#flypegasus #pegasusairlines #flyrobinfly pic.twitter.com/B54gTpWMo2
— Glenn deWysockie (@swaggerloaf) January 14, 2018