Safety

Turkish aviation safety investigators have started an inquiry after an Onur Air Boeing MD-88’s cargo door opened during take-off from Istanbul Ataturk airport, forcing the aircraft to return.

Onur Air says the passenger jet’s crew opted to make an emergency landing back at Istanbul after discovering, during the 1 January incident, that the aircraft was losing pressure as it reached 6,000ft (1,800m).

After the MD-88 touched down the cargo door opened causing baggage to fall from the aircraft on to the runway. Loose baggage was subsequently retrieved by airport ground vehicles.

The aircraft, which had been bound for İzmir, was said to have been carrying 134 passengers.

Istanbul-based Onur Air says that the pilots did not receive any indication that the cargo door had not closed. The investigation is being handled by the Turkish civil aviation administration.

According to Flight's fleet database ACAS, Onur Air operates five MD-88s (including TC-ONN one pictured below) and three MD-83s.