A Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing at JFK International Airport in New York after the pilot, İlçehin Pehlivan, fainted and died mid-flight.
The Airbus 350 flight TK204 was traveling from Seattle to Istanbul when the pilot collapsed. Despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead.
The flight crew, consisting of another pilot and a co-pilot, decided to make an emergency landing. The plane landed safely at JFK on Wednesday morning.
Turkish Airlines spokesman Yahya Üstün wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The pilot of our Airbus 350… flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight.
“After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.”
Turkish Airlines identified the pilot as İlçehin Pehlivan, a 59-year-old veteran of the airline since 2007. The airline stated that Pehlivan had passed a recent health exam and was declared fit to fly.
The passengers on board flight TK204 were transported to Istanbul from JFK.
Turkish Airlines expressed condolences to Pehlivan’s family and colleagues.
“As the Turkish Airlines family, we wish God’s mercy upon our captain and patience to his grieving family, all his colleagues and loved ones,” Üstün said.
