According to information obtained, the Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300 passenger plane, operating flight TK1046 from Bucharest to Istanbul with 258 passengers and 10 crew members on board, struck and destroyed runway lighting poles and signs while accelerating for takeoff at Otopeni Airport after veering toward the edge of the runway.
AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT
The pilots of the Turkish Airlines plane, which destroyed the lighting poles and signs located at the edge of the runway during takeoff, decided to proceed with the flight.
While the aircraft landed at Istanbul Airport without further incident, subsequent inspections revealed damage to the plane's landing gear.
AUTHORITIES LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION
The fact that the Turkish Airlines pilots chose to continue to Istanbul instead of returning to Bucharest Airport, despite the accident, has led the Romanian Civil Aviation Authority to launch an investigation into the incident, citing the endangerment of the 280 people on board.
Romanian authorities reported that the aircraft destroyed 10 edge lights on the north side of the runway and an information sign on taxiway G. It was determined that a section of the northern shoulder of the runway was also damaged in the area where the edge lights were broken. The edge lights were repaired without the need for runway closure or NOTAMs.
The incident has been classified as a serious occurrence and an investigation has been initiated.
News Source: AA
