NEW YORK — A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency stop in New York after the captain passed away during the journey, according to an airline representative.
Pilot ?lçehin Pehlivan, aged 59, reportedly lost consciousness at an undisclosed time after the departure of flight 204 from Seattle on Tuesday evening, as stated by Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün.
Despite efforts to provide medical assistance, the captain could not be revived, prompting the co-pilot to initiate an emergency landing. Sadly, Pehlivan did not survive until the aircraft reached the ground, Üstün confirmed.
Flight data from the tracking service, FlightAware, indicates that the Airbus A350 made its landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport shortly before 6 a.m.
The airline is currently organizing alternative travel arrangements for passengers to continue their journey from New York, as noted by the spokesperson.
Pehlivan had been employed at Turkish Airlines since 2007, with a routine health check performed in March indicating he had no medical issues that would interfere with his job, according to Üstün.
“As a company, we are profoundly saddened by the loss of our captain and wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and all those who held him dear,” Üstün expressed.