A Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, forcing the second airport of the largest Turkish city to close.

The aircraft, registered TC-CCK, was carrying out flight PC747 from Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), United Arab Emirates, to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), with 164 passengers on board, on January 7, 2020.

Upon landing at its destination, the plane skidded off the runway and ended its course in the grass by the runway. It was met with emergency vehicles, and occupants were evacuated using emergency slides. “There are no casualties or injuries,” reported Pegasus Airlines, adding that “the necessary investigation has been initiated.”

According to the office of Istanbul governor, flights at Sabiha Gokcen Airport have been temporarily suspended. Heavy rain and severe winds were reported in the city that day, causing disruption in both aviation and maritime traffic.

The runway should be closed until 3 pm local time. Turkish Airlines redirected its flights towards Istanbul Airport (IST) and Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB). 

Pegasus Airlines is a low-cost Turkish airline based in Istanbul. It operates a fleet of 83 aircraft, including 46 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-400, 24 Airbus A320-200 and 12 A320-200neo. 

On January 2018, a Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 was left hanging on a cliff above the Black Sea after veering off the runway of Trabzon Airport (TZX)