Jet2 Flight Diverts to Brussels Following Violent Midair Altercation

A routine flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom descended into chaos on Thursday, February 12, 2026, when a violent brawl broke out between passengers, forcing the aircraft to make an unscheduled landing in Belgium. According to reporting by Fox News and other outlets, Jet2 flight LS896 was en route from Antalya to Manchester when the crew declared an emergency due to “appalling behavior” in the cabin.

Video footage circulating on social media captures the intensity of the incident, showing passengers exchanging punches and putting one another in headlocks while cabin crew attempted to intervene. The disturbance reportedly began with racist abuse and escalated after alcohol was denied to an intoxicated traveler. The flight eventually landed in Brussels, where police removed two individuals who have since received lifetime bans from the Airlines.

Escalation at 30,000 Feet

Witness accounts cited in media reports suggest the tension began early in the flight. A male passenger, who appeared to be intoxicated, reportedly directed racist remarks toward Pakistani passengers seated nearby. The situation deteriorated further when the individual attempted to purchase additional alcohol or cigarettes from the flight attendants and was refused.

From Verbal Abuse to Physical Violence

The verbal confrontation quickly turned physical. Video footage of the incident shows a chaotic scene in the aisle, with one passenger placing another in a headlock while blows were exchanged. The violence occurred in close proximity to other travelers, including families with young children.

In the video recordings, the panic in the cabin is audible. A flight attendant can be heard shouting commands in an attempt to restore order.

“Sit down! We’ve got kids on board!”

, Audio from witness video, via Fox News

Witnesses described the event as “traumatizing,” with some reports indicating that the physical struggle was severe enough to leave blood on the aircraft seats. The pilot, unable to ensure the Safety of the cabin, made the decision to divert the aircraft to Brussels Airports (BRU).

Operational Impact and Consequences

Upon landing in Brussels, Belgian law enforcement officers boarded the aircraft and removed the two men involved in the altercation. The flight was delayed by approximately two hours before continuing to Manchester, where it arrived around 10:00 PM local time.

Jet2’s Zero-Tolerance Response

Jet2 has taken immediate and severe action against the individuals responsible for the diversion. In a statement regarding the incident, the airline confirmed that the passengers have been banned for life. Furthermore, the carrier intends to recover the financial losses associated with the diversion directly from the disruptors.

According to the airline’s official statement:

“We can confirm that the two disruptive passengers will be banned from flying with us for life.”

, Jet2 spokesperson

The pilot reportedly addressed the remaining passengers after the incident, stating that in three decades of flying, he had never witnessed such a severe disturbance.

AirPro News Analysis

This incident underscores the persistent operational challenge airlines face regarding “air rage,” particularly incidents fueled by pre-flight alcohol consumption. Jet2 has been an industry leader in combating this issue through its “Onboard Together” campaign, which advocates for stricter legal consequences for disruptive passengers.

We note that this event bears a superficial resemblance to a previous Jet2 Incident in December 2024, which also involved a diversion from an Antalya-bound route due to a fight. However, the February 12, 2026 incident is distinct due to the reported racial nature of the initial abuse and the specific diversion to Brussels. The recurrence of such high-profile altercations highlights the difficulty cabin crews face in managing intoxication and aggression in confined spaces, despite zero-tolerance policies.

By pursuing the passengers for costs, which can run into the thousands of dollars for fuel, landing fees, and crew hours, Jet2 is signaling that the consequences of midair violence will extend beyond travel bans to significant financial liabilities.

Sources

Sources: Fox News

This article is based on an official statement from SunExpress and verified fleet data.

SunExpress Boeing 737-800 Landing Gear Collapses During Taxi at Antalya

A SunExpress Boeing 737-800 experienced a significant structural failure on Friday, February 13, 2026, when its main landing gear collapsed while taxiing for departure at Antalya Airport (AYT). The aircraft, operating flight XQ7646 to Gaziantep (GZT), suffered a collapse of the landing gear strut, causing the left engine and wingtip to contact the tarmac.

According to an official statement from the airline, all 175 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated without injury. The incident occurred at low speed prior to takeoff, preventing a more severe outcome on the runway.

Incident Overview and Airline Response

The incident took place as the aircraft was maneuvering on the taxiway. Passengers reported a sudden tilt to the left side followed by the aircraft coming to a halt. Emergency services responded immediately, though the evacuation was conducted calmly, likely using stairs rather than emergency slides given the stable position of the aircraft on the ground.

In a statement regarding the event, SunExpress confirmed the technical nature of the failure:

“On our flight XQ7646, which will operate our Antalya-Gaziantep flight, a technical malfunction occurred in the landing gear strut during taxiing. All our passengers have been safely evacuated and the aircraft has been taken for technical inspection. Our flight will be carried out with a different plane in order not to victimize our passengers.”

Airport operations at Antalya continued with minimal disruption, as the immobilized aircraft was located on a taxiway rather than the active runway. SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, arranged for a replacement aircraft to transport the passengers to Gaziantep shortly after the evacuation.

Aircraft and Technical Specifications

The aircraft involved in the incident has been identified as TC-SOB, a Boeing 737-8HC (Next Generation). According to fleet data, the airframe is approximately 9 to 10 years old, having been delivered in 2016. The “HC” designation is the Boeing customer code specific to SunExpress.

The collapse resulted in the left engine nacelle scraping the ground. The aircraft has been grounded for a comprehensive technical investigation to determine the root cause of the strut failure.

Industry Context on Landing Gear Failures

While the specific cause of this collapse remains under investigation, the Boeing 737 NG series has been subject to scrutiny regarding landing gear durability in the past. Industry data indicates that trunnion pins, critical structural components attaching the gear to the wing, have been a focal point for maintenance directives.

Recent regulatory actions have addressed similar risks. For example, FAA Airworthiness Directive 2025-19-12, effective November 2025, mandates inspections to prevent heat damage to main landing gear outer cylinders, noting that such damage could lead to “failure of a principal structural element… or collapse of the main landing gear.” Previous directives have also targeted corrosion and fatigue cracking in trunnion pins, which can result from excessive grinding during overhaul processes.

AirPro News Analysis

Timing Averted Disaster: While any structural failure is concerning, the timing of this incident was fortunate. A landing gear collapse during the high-speed takeoff roll or upon landing impact could have resulted in a catastrophic runway excursion, fuel leaks, or fire. The fact that the strut failed during low-speed taxiing suggests the component was already critically compromised and unable to bear the aircraft’s weight even under minimal stress.

Maintenance Scrutiny: We anticipate that investigators will focus heavily on the maintenance records of TC-SOB. Specifically, they will likely examine whether recent overhaul procedures involved grinding techniques that could have introduced heat damage to the metal, a known precursor to the type of brittle fracture seen in previous 737 NG gear collapses.

Summary of Key Facts

• Date: February 13, 2026
• Flight: XQ7646 (Antalya to Gaziantep)
• Aircraft: Boeing 737-8HC (Registration TC-SOB)
• Occupants: 175 passengers, 6 crew (All safe)
• Damage: Left main gear collapse, engine nacelle contact with ground

SunExpress maintains a strong safety record, with no fatal accidents in its history. This event is currently classified as a technical malfunction rather than a systemic operational failure, pending the final report from civil aviation authorities.

Sources

• SunExpress
• FAA

This article summarizes reporting by WSMV 4 Nashville and Caleb Wethington.

Four Killed in Crash of Tennessee-Based Aircraft in Colorado

A single-engine turboprop Commercial-Aircraft registered to a Tennessee limited liability company crashed near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, early Friday, February 13, 2026, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals on board. While initial headlines described the location as “near Denver,” the incident occurred approximately 165 miles northwest of the capital, in the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains.

According to reporting by WSMV 4 Nashville, the flight originated in the Nashville area. Local authorities in Colorado have confirmed that the crash site is located on Emerald Mountain, a peak immediately west of downtown Steamboat Springs. The crash occurred shortly after midnight Mountain Standard Time as the aircraft was on approach to Bob Adams Field (KSBS).

The Routt County Coroner, Mitch Locke, indicated that officials are currently working to positively identify the victims. As of Friday afternoon, the names of the deceased have not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Flight Path and Aircraft Details

The aircraft involved has been identified as an Epic E1000, a high-performance, six-seat single-engine turboprop. Data indicates the plane departed from Nashville, Tennessee, and made a scheduled stop in Kansas City before proceeding toward the Colorado ski resort town.

Ownership and Registration

Public records link the aircraft to ALS Aviation LLC, an entity based in Brentwood, Tennessee, a suburb south of Nashville. WSMV reports that the plane is registered to this local company, suggesting a private flight rather than a commercial charter. The address listed for the LLC appears to be residential, consistent with private aircraft ownership structures.

Routt County Search and Rescue teams recovered four bodies from the wreckage on the south-facing side of Emerald Mountain. The recovery operation was conducted in challenging winter conditions, with temperatures hovering near freezing and cloud cover obscuring the terrain.

Investigation Underway

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a formal investigation into the Accident. An NTSB investigator was scheduled to arrive at the scene on Friday afternoon to begin documenting the wreckage and gathering data.

Regarding the status of the victims, the local sheriff provided a brief update on the coroner’s progress:

“The sheriff said the coroner is working to identify the victim and notify their next of kin.”

, Reporting via WSMV

At this stage, the cause of the crash remains listed as “unknown circumstances.” Investigators will likely examine weather data, pilot communications, and engine performance logs. Automated weather reports from Steamboat Springs around the time of the crash indicated visibility between 5 and 10 miles with low cloud layers and potential patchy snow.

AirPro News Analysis: The Challenges of Mountain Approaches

While the specific cause of this tragedy has not yet been determined, the approach to Bob Adams Field (KSBS) in Steamboat Springs is known within the Airlines community as technically demanding. The Airports is surrounded by mountainous terrain, requiring precise navigation, particularly during night operations or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

The Epic E1000 is a capable, modern aircraft designed for speed and altitude, often compared to the TBM series or the Pilatus PC-12. However, single-pilot operations into high-altitude mountain airports at night present significant workload challenges. The crash site on Emerald Mountain lies roughly three nautical miles south of the destination airport, an area where aircraft would typically be maneuvering for final alignment with the runway.

We will continue to monitor updates from the NTSB and local authorities regarding the identification of the victims and the preliminary findings of the investigation.

Sources

Sources: WSMV 4 Nashville