On April 12, 2024, a fatal cable car accident occurred near Antalya, Turkey, resulting in one death and seven injuries. The mishap involved a cable car pod striking a pole on the Tunektepe cable car system, which caused passengers to fall to the mountainside below. The system, which connects Konyaalti beach to a summit restaurant and viewing platform, was carrying tourists celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

By April 13, a total of 174 passengers had been stranded following the accident, necessitating a large-scale rescue operation involving 607 personnel and 10 helicopters equipped with night-vision capabilities. Over the course of nearly 23 hours, all passengers were eventually rescued, with the final 43 being brought to safety.

The deceased was identified as a 54-year-old Turkish man. The injured included six Turkish citizens and one Kyrgyz national, with two children among them. The accident and subsequent rescue efforts took place near the city of Antalya, in a popular tourist region known for its scenic views.

In response to the incident, the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation, which revealed preliminary findings of inadequate maintenance and corroded fastenings at connection points on the cable cars. Turkish authorities have detained 13 individuals linked to the cable car company as part of the ongoing investigation.

This tragic event has sparked a comprehensive review of safety protocols for tourist attractions in the region to prevent similar incidents in the future.