Passengers aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK1771 from Istanbul experienced dramatic moments on the afternoon of Saturday, May 10, at Prague’s Václav Havel Airport. During landing on runway 12, the aircraft unexpectedly struck the runway with its tail, causing sparks to fly beneath the fuselage.
Witnesses described the situation as frightening, reporting a loud bang followed immediately by the aircraft quickly ascending back into the air. The pilots reacted promptly, climbing the plane to approximately 1,100 meters altitude to assess the situation. The Airbus A321neo circled above the airport for about 20 minutes before safely landing on the second attempt without further incident.
A passenger on the flight shared with CNN Prima News that the plane was completely full and the landing conditions in Prague were challenging due to strong winds and turbulence. “There was a sudden loud bang, and then the plane rapidly climbed back up. We circled around the airport from all sides, which was quite unsettling,” she recounted. She also mentioned overhearing a pilot announcement asking passengers to pray before the second landing attempt.
The initial incident delayed the flight by nearly half an hour. The subsequent return flight to Istanbul, TK1772, was canceled, and the aircraft was grounded for technical inspections to ensure safety.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported, though several passengers were visibly shaken, with reports of at least one passenger becoming physically ill from the experience. Following the incident, some passengers expressed reservations about future flights, preferring alternative modes of transport within Europe.
Historical Overview: Tragic Airplane Accidents at Prague Airport
- October 1975: A Yugoslavian charter plane crashed near Prague shortly after takeoff due to engine failure, killing 75 of the 120 people on board.
- February 1973: An Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154 crashed during landing in severe weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of 66 of the 100 passengers and crew.
- July 1961: A ČSA (Czechoslovak Airlines) Ilyushin Il-18 crashed shortly after takeoff due to engine malfunction, causing 72 fatalities.