Atlasjet Airlines MD-83 plane crash
Isparta, Turkey
Updated on
The MD-83 was leased by Atlasjet airline from Istanbul-based World Focus Airlines. It departed Istanbul, Turkey, for a passenger flight to Isparta, Turkey,
with 50 passengers and 7 crewmembers onboard. The plane crashed by night in mountainous terrain a few minutes before landing at Isparta airport. There are
no survivors.
A few seconds before the accident, the pilot had informed the Isparta airport’s control tower that the landing strip was in sight and descent was
proceeding normally. The air traffic controller instructed them to continue their approach. But then, the aircraft disappeared from the radar screen.
The plane's wreckage was found five hours later on a 1,830-metre (6,003-foot) hill called Turbe Tepe (Shrine Peak), near Cukuroren village, some 12
kilometres (7 miles) from Isparta airport. The fuselage and wings of the aircraft were torn apart and pieces of metal and bodies, some still in their
seats, were scattered across the area.
The McDonnell Douglas-83 crashed in an area that was outside its flight path, but it is still unknown why the plane veered off course. It is suspected the
plane's tail hit a hilltop and that the MD-83 fell on its fuselage with the force of the impact.
