AKIPRESS.COM - A Pegasus Airlines passenger jet flying in from the western city of İzmir veered off the runway after landing at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Wednesday afternoon killing 3 passengers and scores of injuries, Daily Sabah reports.

Footage published by Demirören News Agency later in the day showed the moments the plane skidded off the runway.

VIDEO — Footage shows moments Pegasus Airlines plane veered off runway at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airporthttps://t.co/ZrH2yu7tVS pic.twitter.com/UkonjiCcA0

— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) February 5, 2020

The Boeing 737-800's fuselage broke in three and caught fire. Firefighters and ambulances were dispatched to the scene immediately after the accident.

"Three evacuees have died of injuries, 179 others are being treated," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a statement.

The Boeing 737-800's fuselage broke in three and caught fire. Firefighters and ambulances were dispatched to the scene immediately after the accident.

The plane was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, according to Transportation Minister Cahit Turhan. He said the accident was due to a "hard landing."