3 killed, 179 wounded as plane slides off runway in Turkey's Istanbul

Three killed and 179 others wounded when a plane slid off the runway at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on Wednesday, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a tweet that the accident happened at 6:19 p.m. local time (1519 GMT) when a plane from Turkey's Pegasus Airlines with 183 people, including six crew members on board skidded off the runway shortly after landing.

"The plane could not hold on the runway due to poor weather conditions and skidded for around 50-60 meters," Yerlikaya told reporters at the airport.

Video footage aired by Turkish TV broadcasters showed that the front part of the aircraft was torn apart, and the plane was split into three parts.

(CGTN)