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Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Cahit Turhan has answered the Parliamentary question submitted by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Vice Chair and İstanbul MP Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi about a Turkish Airlines plane that was damaged due to a bird strike.
Admitting that bad weather conditions prevail at and around new İstanbul Airport especially in spring and autumn, Turhan has stated that these unfavorable conditions could lead to long waiting times, missed approaches and diversion of flights to the reserve airfield in this period.
'17 missed approaches due to wind shear'
According to the data announced by Minister Turhan, the number of planes that had to make a missed approach at the new İstanbul Airport was 59 in April, 89 in May and 31 in the first half of June. Taken together, a total of 179 planes had to miss the İstanbul Airport for various reasons.
Turhan has also stated that 15 of these missed approaches were caused by a wind shear and 7 of them by a heavy turbulence. However, the Minister has not given any information as to the causes of other missed approaches.
'13 planes could not land at the new airport'
Announcing that since the new İstanbul Airport came into service, 13 planes in total could not land at the new İstanbul Airport for unfavorable weather conditions, the Minister has stated that 8 of these planes could not land on May 17, 2019, when bad weather conditions caused long waiting periods.
Turhan has also added that the diversion of planes to reserve airfield due to unfavorable weather conditions is a normal procedure. (RT/SD)
