Turkey sinks Airbus jet to boost diving tourism

The giant plane was put to the bottom of the sea on June 4 off the popular resort of Kuşadası in Aydın province, Hurriyet Daily News informs.

The sinking of the giant plane with a wingspan of 44 meters (144 feet) and a length of 54 meters (177 feet) is aimed at promoting artificial reef diving which is hugely popular with experienced divers.

Once sunken, the plane acts like a reef, becoming a magnet for underwater flora and fauna.

The 36-year-old aircraft had been bought by Aydın municipality from a private aviation firm for 270,000 Turkish liras ($93,000).