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A Turkish Airlines pilot tragically died mid-flight, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The incident occurred during Flight TK204, which had departed from Seattle and was bound for Istanbul on the night of Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
The pilot, 59-year-old İlçehin Pehlivan, collapsed shortly after takeoff. Despite immediate attempts by the crew to administer first aid, Pehlivan passed away before the aircraft could reach its emergency destination. The co-pilot and another pilot on board took control of the Airbus A350 and diverted the flight to New York, where it landed safely at approximately 6 am local time on Wednesday.
The airline confirmed that Pehlivan had been employed by Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had undergone a routine medical examination in March, which showed no signs of health issues. Yahya Üstün, a spokesperson for the airline, announced the tragic event on social media platform X, stating, "As Turkish Airlines, we deeply feel the loss of our captain and extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family, colleagues, and all his loved ones."
Flight tracking data showed that the plane was initially flying north over Canada when the emergency situation unfolded. After the pilot collapsed, the crew made the decision to divert south, ensuring a safe landing in New York. Passengers onboard were informed about the situation and arrangements were made for them to continue their travel.
This incident follows similar cases in the past where pilots have passed away mid-flight. In 2015, a 57-year-old American Airlines pilot died during an overnight flight from Phoenix to Boston, with the first officer safely landing the plane in Syracuse. Just last year, LATAM Airlines faced a comparable situation when one of its captains became incapacitated during a flight from Miami to Santiago de Chile, resulting in an emergency diversion to Panama.
Pehlivan's cause of death has not yet been released.
