ATC Held Responsible in 2023 Stuttgart Near-Miss Between THY and SunExpress Aircraft
A final report published on 10 March 2026 concluded that air traffic control (ATC) was responsible for a loss of separation incident that occurred on 23 October 2023 at Stuttgart Airport.
The event involved a Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-200 (registration TC-JSZ) preparing for departure to Istanbul and a SunExpress Boeing 737-800 (registration TC-SOR) approaching the same runway for landing after a flight from Antalya.
According to the report, the tower controller changed the departure sequence and first cleared an Embraer EMB 500 Phenom 100 for takeoff while instructing the approaching SunExpress aircraft to reduce speed.
After the business jet departed, the Turkish Airlines A321 was cleared for takeoff while the SunExpress 737 was already on short final, about 1 km from the runway. At that point, the controller issued a go-around instruction to the approaching aircraft.
The Boeing 737 initiated a go-around at very low altitude above the runway while the A321 continued its takeoff roll. Data later showed that the aircraft came within approximately 90 meters vertically and 1.5 kilometers horizontally.
The controller then instructed the SunExpress aircraft to turn left, separating the flight paths. The aircraft safely returned for another approach and landed in Stuttgart about 10 minutes later.
Investigators determined that the incident was caused by the controller’s late change of the departure sequence, incorrect timing assessment, and delayed go-around instruction.
Source: avherald.com ✈️
