The A321neo “Elif Mina” aircraft belonging to Pegasus was safely brought to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport after being stranded in Tehran for 52 days due to the closure of Iranian airspace.
The operation carried out in a crisis environment was successfully completed, the aircraft was welcomed with applause
The Pegasus passenger aircraft, which had been stranded for 52 days due to the closure of Iranian airspace, arrived at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport following a successful operation. The aircraft, brought to Türkiye through Pegasus Airlines’ effective crisis management and strong operations, was welcomed with applause.
After a 52-day mandatory wait in Iran, and with the partial reopening of the airspace, the Airbus A321neo passenger aircraft named “Elif Mina,” belonging to Pegasus Airlines, safely landed at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport on April 21 through a successful operation. The evacuation of the aircraft, which had been stranded in Tehran due to the closure of the airspace following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, was carried out as a result of detailed efforts meticulously conducted by all relevant units of Pegasus. As a result of a comprehensive operation conducted through technical and diplomatic initiatives, the passenger aircraft named Elif Mina was brought back to the country accompanied by a second A320 aircraft named “Ayda,” which was sent to the region. The aircraft in question had performed its last flight on February 28 on the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen–Tehran route and had been unable to return home since then, remaining in Tehran. Among those welcoming the aircraft, whose return to Istanbul was eagerly awaited, were the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport team, Pegasus Airlines CEO Güliz Öztürk, and Pegasus senior management. After being spotted in Turkish airspace, the aircraft and support team were welcomed with applause on the apron.
Return via the safest route
In order to safely complete the aircraft’s return process, the assigned flight crew carried out a flight of approximately three hours. Immediately after taking off from Tehran, the aircraft followed a northern route at an altitude of 38,000 feet, passing through the airspace of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and entered Turkish airspace via Kars. The return planning was conducted in a controlled manner via the most suitable route, in line with Pegasus’ meticulous operational approach.
It had previously been shared that flight crews were evacuated to Türkiye by road, while the aircraft were preserved at their respective locations. At the end of the process, which was conducted meticulously both operationally and from a humanitarian perspective, the flight crew and aircraft returned safely to the country.
Sabiha Gökçen’s coordination power during crisis periods
The aircraft belonging to Pegasus Airlines, one of the main airline stakeholders of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, will be reintegrated into operations after the necessary technical inspections and maintenance processes. With this operation, Sabiha Gökçen Airport once again demonstrated its critical role in ensuring that aviation operations are carried out safely and in a coordinated manner during times of crisis.
