**Turkish Airlines Investigates Airport Incident Involving Boeing 777**
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A serious incident at Antalya Airport has prompted an investigation by Turkish Airlines after one of its Boeing 777 aircraft collided with a radar mast upon landing on Thursday evening. The plane, which had departed Istanbul with 267 passengers on board, inadvertently entered the wrong taxiway following its arrival.
The flight was scheduled to take off from Istanbul at 6:23 p.m., albeit 38 minutes behind schedule, and it landed safely in Antalya at approximately 7:10 p.m., according to data from Flightradar24. However, the situation took a dramatic turn as the aircraft began to taxi after landing.
Local media outlet Hürriyet reported that while navigating the airfield, the plane mistakenly veered onto a restricted taxiway and struck a radar mast critical to the air traffic control system. Fortunately, all passengers were successfully evacuated from the aircraft, and while three individuals sustained minor injuries, no critical injuries were reported.
The Turkish Ministry of Transport confirmed the incident and highlighted that both the aircraft and the radar mast suffered damages. Eyewitness photographs circulating on social media depicted considerable damage to the plane’s right wing, which made contact with the mast, leaving a noticeable hole in the fuselage.
Yahya Üstün, the head of communications for Turkish Airlines, addressed the situation on social media platform X. He reassured the public that the passenger who had suffered a minor injury was reportedly in good health. Üstün also stated that a thorough technical investigation is currently underway to uncover the details surrounding the collision.
Turkish Airlines, while initially responding to the incident, indicated that they would not provide further updates at this time. Requests for more information submitted to Antalya Airport authorities and the Turkish Ministry of Transport did not yield any additional details.
Antalya Airport is a key hub for both domestic and international flights, particularly popular among tourists visiting the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya. Numerous airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and AJet, operate frequent flights between the airport and Istanbul.
This incident is not without precedent; an earlier evacuation involving a Turkish Airlines flight occurred in July 2025, when smoke was detected during landing gear deployment. Ground crews alerted the pilots, and the aircraft, carrying 247 passengers and 13 crew members, completed a successful landing. Fortunately, all passengers were safely evacuated without any injuries reported.
Additionally, a recent emergency evacuation took place in Nepal involving another Turkish Airlines flight. On that occasion, 277 passengers and 11 crew members safely exited the aircraft after landing, again without injuries.
As the investigation into the Antalya Airport incident progresses, follow-up information will likely be provided by Turkish Airlines and the relevant authorities. The incident raises ongoing questions about flight safety protocols and the importance of adhering to proper taxiway procedures, particularly in busy airports hosting simultaneous arrivals and departures.
Readers are encouraged to remain aware of updates as this story develops, including any findings from the investigation that may influence operational procedures at Turkish Airlines and Antalya Airport in the future.