Passengers on a Pegasus Airlines flight were left terrified as their plane was struck by a violent storm, causing it to shake uncontrollably and forcing an emergency landing. The chaotic scene was captured in a video filmed by a panicked passenger, showing the storm outside as the plane rocked side to side.
The flight, which took off from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Sunday, November 17, was headed to Mersin in southern Turkey. However, severe weather forced the plane to divert and make an emergency landing in Kayseri, central Turkey, after a three-hour flight. Although Kayseri is just 90 minutes from Istanbul, the aircraft was unable to land at its intended destination due to the storm’s intensity, forcing it to remain in the air longer than planned.
“Attention to our valued guests, on November 17, 2024, our Sabiha Gökçen-Çukurova flight, number PC2092, landed safely at Kayseri Erkilet Airport instead of the planned destination due to adverse weather conditions during the flight. We always consider the safety of our guests and team our top priority,” Pegasus airlines said in a statement.
In the video of the flight, passengers could be heard screaming, while one woman was visibly shocked by the force of the winds amidst the terrifying turbulence. Small children were also heard crying in distress as the footage abruptly ended. Another video showed passengers standing on the flight, while many were also seen sitting and walking with their luggage at the airport after the emergency landing.
Once the plane landed safely in Kayseri, medical teams were on hand to assist the disturbed passengers, according to a report by The Daily Mail.
Pegasus airlines reassured the public that while the flight experienced turbulence due to the weather, there were no incidents, and all standard safety protocols were followed.
“Apart from turbulence caused by weather conditions, no incidents were experienced, and such weather events are managed with standard measures determined for flight safety and security. The safety and comfort of our guests are always protected at the highest level,” the airline added.
