Turkish Airlines flight makes emergency landing in New York after pilot dies

A Turkish Airlines pilot died mid-air, forcing the Istanbul-bound flight to make an emergency landing in New York. The flight had taken off from Seattle.

In Short

• Turkish Airlines pilot, 59, could not be revived despite medical intervention
• Flight makes emergency landing in New York after taking off from Seattle
• In March, the pilot had no health problems during a periodic check-up

A Turkish Airlines flight bound for Istanbul from Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after the captain collapsed mid-air, an airline official said.

Pilot Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, lost consciousness after Flight 204 took off from Seattle on Tuesday night. Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Ustun said in a statement posted on X. He could not be revived despite medical intervention, following which a second pilot and a co-pilot took over the controls.

According to data from tracking site FlightAware, the flight landed at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York just before 6 am on Wednesday. The plane landed in New York eight hours after it took off from Seattle.

Pehlivan had been working with Turkish Airlines since 2007. He had undergone a periodic health examination on March 8, which found no health problem that would have prevented him from working, Ustun said.

"Arrangements were being made for passengers to reach their destination from New York," the airline spokesperson said.

The cause of the pilot's death was not known. Generally, pilots have to undergo medical examinations every 12 months, while those above 40 years of age should renew their medical certificate after every six months.

"On behalf of 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," Ustun said.