Passengers aboard a Turkish flight experienced a frightening incident when their aircraft collided with a pole while taxiing at Antalya International Airport, Turkey. The Boeing 777 struck a radar mast, causing it to collapse and impact the plane’s fuselage, resulting in the deployment of oxygen masks inside the cabin.
The flight, TK2430 by Turkish Airlines, had just landed from Istanbul and was maneuvering towards its parking position when the collision occurred. The force of the impact created a hole in the fuselage, dislodged storage bins, and activated oxygen masks in multiple rows, leading to panic among the passengers.
Video footage captured the aftermath, showing damaged overhead compartments with dangling oxygen masks as passengers observed the scene in confusion. Fortunately, all 267 passengers and crew were safely evacuated by emergency services, with only one passenger sustaining minor injuries.
Turkish Airlines initiated a technical investigation into the incident, while the Turkish Ministry of Transport disclosed that the aircraft had veered into the wrong lane on the taxiway after landing, leading to the collision with the ground radar mast.
Following the evacuation and necessary inspections, the damaged Boeing 777-300ER, registered as TC-LKD, was towed to a parking area for further assessment. The 17-year-old aircraft, previously leased to IndiGo and still bearing its livery, suffered significant damage to its right wing and fuselage, necessitating extensive repairs.
An ongoing investigation aims to determine the exact cause of the accident, as authorities work to ensure the safety of future flights.