On January 31st, 2026, Turkish Airlines flight TK269 from Istanbul to Chisinau encountered a technical issue during final approach, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and execute a go-around.
The aircraft involved, a Boeing 737-800 registered TC-JVF, ultimately landed safely at Chisinau International Airport following a higher-than-normal speed approach.
TK269 Istanbul-Chisinau: Go-Around Initiated at 2,600 Feet
Flight TK269 was nearing the end of its scheduled service from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Chisinau (RMO) when the crew received an abnormal flaps indication while descending toward runway 09.
At approximately 2,600 feet, the pilots aborted the approach and initiated a go-around.
The aircraft entered a holding pattern to troubleshoot the issue and complete the relevant checklists.
After declaring an emergency, the crew opted to proceed with a landing on runway 09 at a significantly elevated groundspeed—approximately 175 knots—indicative of a compromised flap configuration.
Despite the technical challenge, the landing was executed without further incident. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft vacated the runway under its own power.
Aircraft Details: TC-JVF “Pendik”
The aircraft involved in the incident, TC-JVF, is a Boeing 737-800 built at Renton, Washington, with manufacturer serial number 42008 and line number 4934.
Delivered to Turkish Airlines in June 2014, the jet is configured with 16 business class and 135 economy class seats (C16Y135), powered by two CFM International engines.
At the time of the incident, TC-JVF was 11.7 years old and remained in active service.
Named “Pendik,” the aircraft was originally ferried from Boeing Field (BFI) to Keflavik (KEF) and onward to Istanbul (ISL) on June 2–3, 2014.
It has since operated extensively across Turkish Airlines’ short- and medium-haul network.
Operational Recovery and Return to Service Following Emergency on Turkish Airlines TK269 Istanbul-Chisinau
Following the emergency landing, TK269’s return leg to Istanbul was delayed by approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.
TC-JVF departed Chisinau later that day and arrived back in Istanbul, where it remained overnight.
After a brief operational pause, the aircraft was returned to service roughly 18 hours after its arrival in Istanbul.
Flight history data from Flightradar24 confirms that TK269 had been operating consistently on the IST–RMO route in the days leading up to the incident, with TC-JVF previously flying the same sector on January 22nd.
The aircraft’s performance and punctuality had been routine, with no prior reported anomalies.
Context and Implications
While flap-related issues are not uncommon in commercial aviation, they require immediate attention due to their impact on approach speeds, landing distances, and aircraft handling.
The crew’s decision to execute a go-around and declare an emergency reflects standard operating procedures prioritizing safety and situational awareness.
Turkish Airlines has not issued a public statement regarding the incident, and no regulatory investigation has been announced at this time.
TC-JVF’s swift return to service suggests the issue was resolved without requiring extensive maintenance.
As of February 1st, TC-JVF remains active in Turkish Airlines’ fleet, continuing to operate scheduled services across Europe and the Middle East.
The incident underscores the importance of crew training, system redundancy, and procedural discipline in managing in-flight anomalies.
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