Pilot dies mid-flight, Turkish Airlines plane makes emergency landing at JFK
- A Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul experienced a tragic incident when the pilot collapsed during the flight.
- The pilot, İlçehin Pehlivan, was pronounced dead after unsuccessful resuscitation efforts, despite having recently passed a health exam.
- Passengers were safely diverted to JFK International Airport and will continue their journey, while the airline expressed condolences to the pilot's family.
On October 8, 2024, a Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing at JFK International Airport in New York after the pilot collapsed mid-flight. The pilot, identified as 59-year-old İlçehin Pehlivan, had been with the airline since 2007 and had recently passed a health examination with a clean bill of health. Despite attempts to resuscitate him during the flight, he died before the plane could land. The flight, designated TK204, took off from Seattle at 7:02 p.m. and landed at JFK at 5:57 a.m. the following day. The airline confirmed that the flight crew, consisting of another pilot and a co-pilot, made the decision to divert the flight after the pilot's collapse. Passengers on board were informed of the situation and arrangements were made to continue their journey to Istanbul from JFK. Turkish Airlines expressed condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased pilot, highlighting the tragic nature of the incident. The airline's response reflects the gravity of the situation and the impact it has on the aviation community and the passengers involved.