One dead in Istanbul airport explosion

ISTANBUL

One person has died after an explosion Wednesday at Sabiha Gokcen Airport, located on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Private-run airline company Pegasus Airlines said an explosion, of which the cause has yet to be determined, occurred in the airport apron.

"Of the airport cleaning staff, Canan Celik Burgucu, 33, suffered an injury to her hand and Zehra Yamac, 30, to her head," said the company in a written statement.

Yamac died at the Pendik Research and Training Hospital, according to sources from within the facility.

The company noted there were no passengers inside the jet bridge or the plane at the time of the incident and that the airport would continue with its normal operations.

Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said the explosion occurred at 02.05 a.m. (0005GMT) and that an investigation was launched into the cause of the blast.