An A300 Airbus was recently dropped to the ocean floor in the Aegean Sea by Turkish officials in hopes of attracting tourists. The country is looking for ways to improve its tourism in light of the several terror attacks in Europe making overseas travellers stay away. It took two-and-a-half hours to sink the 36-year-old jumbo jet. Turkey wants to use the 177 feet long aircraft as a reef, which will act as a magnet for underwater flora and fauna. Turkish officials are hopeful that this will promote artificial reef diving especially among experienced divers. The jet was sunk off the Kuşadası resort in the Aydin province, reported AFP.

Aydin’s mayor, Özlem Çerçioğlu said "Our goal is to make Kuşadası a centre of diving tourism. Our goal is to protect the underwater life. And with these goals in mind, we have witnessed one of the biggest wrecks in the world."

To boost tourism, Turkey has dropped airplanes in the sea before but this is the first time an A300 Airbus this large has been sunk.