On Feb 13th 2026, a SunExpress Boeing 737-800, registration TC-SOB, suffered a dramatic landing gear failure while taxiing for departure in Antalya, leaving the aircraft disabled and resting on its left engine.
The aircraft, operating flight XQ-7646 from Antalya to Gaziantep, was taxiing along taxiway J toward runway 18L when the left main landing gear suddenly collapsed. The failure caused the jet to tilt sharply to the left, with the engine nacelle making contact with the taxiway surface.
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene. Passengers disembarked the aircraft using mobile stairs, and no injuries were reported among those on board. Despite the safe evacuation, the aircraft sustained substantial structural damage as a result of the collapse and engine contact with the ground.
SunExpress later described the occurrence as a technical malfunction. The exact cause of the landing gear failure has not yet been detailed, but such events typically prompt thorough inspections of the gear assembly, attachment points, and associated hydraulic systems.
The disabled aircraft blocked the taxiway as recovery operations commenced. A replacement Boeing 737-800, registration TC-SOP, was arranged to operate the flight. The substitute aircraft departed Antalya approximately four and a half hours later than scheduled, allowing passengers to continue their journey to Gaziantep.
While taxi incidents rarely capture public attention, a gear collapse on the ground can cause extensive damage and operational disruption. In this case, swift emergency response and orderly passenger disembarkation ensured that what could have escalated into a more serious situation remained injury-free.
