On the afternoon of February 13, 2026, what was meant to be a routine departure from Antalya Airport turned into a dramatic, if ultimately safe, ordeal for nearly 200 people aboard a SunExpress Boeing 737-800. The flight, designated XQ7646 and bound for Gaziantep, never left the ground. Instead, it became the focus of national and international attention after the aircraft’s left-hand main landing gear suddenly collapsed while taxiing for departure.
The incident, which occurred on a bustling Friday at one of Turkey’s busiest airports, involved SunExpress’s aircraft registration TC-SOB—a jet delivered to the airline in 2016 and fresh off a regular arrival from Diyarbakir earlier that day, as reported by Aviation Today. With 175 passengers and 6 crew members on board, the stakes were high. In a moment, the aircraft rolled left, coming to rest with its weight bearing down on the left engine. The sight was dramatic: the jet, stuck on the taxiway, its left engine nearly scraping the tarmac, surrounded by flashing lights and emergency crews.
Yet, in the midst of the chaos, the outcome was remarkably positive. Airport rescue and firefighting teams responded with impressive speed, and all occupants were evacuated safely via stairs. Not a single injury was reported—a testament to both the professionalism of the crew and the efficiency of Antalya’s emergency response. As SunExpress later emphasized in a statement, “the safety of our passengers and crew members is always our top priority.”
According to the Aviation Herald and Travel Radar, the incident was caused by a “technical issue involving the landing gear strut” during taxiing. The airline confirmed that the aircraft was immediately removed from service for a thorough technical inspection. A spokesperson for SunExpress stated, “Passengers were safely disembarked, and the aircraft was taken out of operation for technical inspection. The Antalya-Gaziantep service will be operated by a different aircraft.”
The disruption, while significant for those involved, was handled with minimal fuss. Passengers, after their unexpected adventure, were transferred to a replacement Boeing 737-800 and flown to Gaziantep after a delay of approximately four to five hours. Antalya Airport itself experienced only a brief interruption, with emergency services securing the area and flight operations continuing around the grounded jet, according to Aviation Today.
Images from the scene circulated quickly online, showing the aircraft’s left landing gear assembly badly damaged—either bent or failed outright—and the plane’s left engine resting on the taxiway. Such failures are rare in commercial aviation. Landing gear systems are engineered with multiple redundancies and safety interlocks, making uncommanded retraction or structural collapse during ground operations an unusual event. As noted by Travel Radar, “landing gear pins are one such protection measure, with a bright red tag reading ‘Remove Before Flight.’ These pins are inserted when the flight is stationary on the ground and prevent the gears from retracting, even if someone attempts to retract them from the flight deck.”
Despite the abundance of safety features, accidents can still occur. The true cause of the collapse remains under investigation by Turkish aviation authorities, who will review maintenance records, gear assembly integrity, and data logs to determine what went wrong. While speculation about human error or mechanical failure is inevitable in the aftermath of such incidents, only a thorough technical examination will provide definitive answers. As Travel Radar pointed out, “the true cause of the collapse can only be determined through an investigation of the aircraft, its components, and data logs.”
SunExpress’s rapid response and transparent communication earned praise from industry observers. The airline, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and the Lufthansa Group, operates a fleet predominantly composed of Boeing 737-800s. Its role in the Turkish aviation sector is significant, connecting both domestic and international tourists to destinations across the country. Antalya, the site of the incident, is a key hub for Turkey’s tourism industry—renowned for its Mediterranean beaches, historical sites, and vibrant culture. Disruptions at such a major gateway, while inconvenient, rarely deter the flow of travelers for long.
The affected aircraft, tail number TC-SOB, was approximately 10 years old and had a routine operational history prior to the incident. According to Aviation Today, it had completed regular flights, including a scheduled arrival from Diyarbakir earlier that day. SunExpress confirmed there were no prior reported issues with the jet.
For travelers, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of modern air travel. While the odds of experiencing a landing gear collapse are exceedingly low, airlines and airports must remain vigilant, maintaining rigorous inspection and maintenance protocols. As Travel Radar explained, “considering the level of safety in aircraft today can help prevent such accidents.”
The investigation now underway will examine every angle: mechanical systems, human factors, and maintenance routines. Until the findings are released, the aviation community is left to await answers—and to appreciate the professionalism that prevented a potentially serious accident from becoming a tragedy.
For those whose travel plans were disrupted, the incident was undoubtedly frustrating. But the swift, orderly evacuation and the airline’s commitment to safety ensured that inconvenience did not escalate into catastrophe. As SunExpress reiterated, “the safety of our passengers and crew members is always our top priority.”
Looking ahead, Antalya Airport remains one of Turkey’s most reliable and efficient gateways, continuing to serve millions of travelers each year. SunExpress, too, remains a vital player in the nation’s tourism and transportation landscape, its reputation for safety and responsiveness only strengthened by its handling of this unexpected event.
As the technical investigation proceeds, the aviation world will watch closely for lessons learned—hoping that, as in this case, every passenger’s journey ends as safely as it began.