PHOTO ESSAY: Istanbul's ferries, a lifeline connecting continents and stories

Associated Press (AP) — Every day, ferries of all shapes and sizes glide across the waters of Istanbul, their wakes intertwining to form intricate lattices of churning foam. The passenger boats are more than just a means of transportation — they’re entrenched in the historic city’s identity, as memorable as its skyline and as constant as the cries of seagulls.

They carry not just people, but also their stories.

Forty million commuters, tourists, vendors and other travelers ride the Istanbul Metropolitan City Lines every year, according to official figures. Trips can range from as little as 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the destination.

For some passengers, the vessels are a scenic commute to work, at times turning into temporary offices where phones ring, laptops hum and voices compete to be heard over the sound of roaring engines.

For others, the boats provide a floating refuge, a brief escape from the grind of daily life in a swarming city of 16 million people.

“I feel that when you travel by ferry… you replenish energy that has been diminished,” said Ali Akgun, who has lived in Istanbul for nearly 50 years. “I love the sea.”

The ferries travel on dozens of routes across the Sea of Marmara, a wholly Turkish body of water, as well as the Bosporus, the strait that both divides and bridges Europe and Asia.

Visiting Istanbul for the first time, Leila Bihi, from Morocco, experienced her first ferry ride between continents.

“It’s already quite special to go from one bank of the (Bosporus) to the other,” she said. “Looking at monuments that are modern and ancient during the call to prayer. … It’s a bit reminiscent of the whole city, its history, its mystical side.”

For centuries the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey’s predecessor, used maritime routes for not only travel, but also military expeditions. Its capital, Constantinople, was a major center of trade due to its strategic location flanked by critical waterways.

This enduring bond with the sea continues in Istanbul, where water has always been more than a scenic backdrop — it’s embedded in the fabric of the centuries-old city, shaping its character and the lives of its residents.

“I think it’s the most beautiful stage in the world,” said Ramin Kargozari, a musician who makes a living playing his guitar while riding ferries. “Making music on the water, on a ferry, is great.”

With the Suleymaniye Mosque in the background, passengers, seen through a window, board a ferry before departing from the Karakoy terminal in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A woman drinks tea on a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A woman peers out from a ferry departing Kadikoy on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A ferry, seen through a window, sails along the Bosphorus bound for the Karakoy terminal in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A worker throws a rope to another one as a ferry docks at the Karakoy terminal on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Locals and tourists take a ferry bound for the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A musician performs for money on a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Commuters arrive at the Kadikoy ferry terminal on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A woman takes photos of kittens while waiting to board a boat at the Karakoy ferry terminal in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A man sleeps on a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Youngsters feed seagulls on a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Passengers ride a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A musician plays the violin on a ferry crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Passengers wait to board a ferry at the Kadikoy terminal on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A man sells the popular Turkish bread "simit" on a ferry bound for the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Commuters wait as others arrive at the Kabatas ferry terminal on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Commuters disembark from a ferry at the Eminonu terminal on a rainy day in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Two women sit on the deck of a ferry bound for the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A ferry departs from the Eminonu terminal on the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A passenger reads a book as others board a ferry at the Eminonu terminal on the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A ferry sails after departing from the Kadikoy terminal on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Passengers ride a ferry bound for Kadikoy on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A young boy feeds a seagull on a ferry bound for the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A couple and other passengers wait to board a ferry at the Besiktas terminal on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)