Turkish Airlines face scrutiny after Bucharest takeoff accident

Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300 encountered a significant incident at Otopeni Airport on a recent flight from Bucharest to Istanbul.

The aircraft carrying 258 passengers and 10 crew members struck lighting poles and direction signs on the runway during takeoff. Despite the collision, the pilots decided to continue the flight to Istanbul, where the plane landed safely.

Romanian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

The Romanian Civil Aviation Authority reported that the plane damaged ten edge lights and a directional sign on the northern side of the runway.

The impact also caused a section of the northern shoulder of the runway to strip.

Workers repaired the lights without the need to close the runway or issue NOTAMs, but officials classified the event as serious.

Authorities have raised concerns about the pilots’ decision to continue the flight rather than return to Bucharest. The choice to proceed with 280 lives potentially at risk has become a focal point of the ongoing investigation.

Upon landing in Istanbul, initial inspections revealed damage to the aircraft’s landing gear.