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The pilot of a passenger plane died after crashing mid-flight, forcing the Turkish Airlines plane to make an emergency landing in New York, the airline said Wednesday.
The Airbus 350 took off Tuesday afternoon from the western coastal city of Seattle, bound for Istanbul, airline spokesman Yahya Ustun wrote in X.
He said the pilot of flight TK204, whom he identified as Ilcehin Pehlivan, collapsed during the flight.
“After a failed attempt to provide first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing,” Ustún said.
The 59-year-old pilot, who had worked for Turkish Airlines since 2007, had passed a medical examination in March, according to Ustun, who said there were no indications of any health problems.
Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, who had worked for Turkish Airlines since 2007, reportedly underwent a medical examination in March.
The plane took off on Tuesday afternoon from the coastal city of Seattle in the western United States and was heading to Istanbul when it had to make an emergency landing.
Flight trackers show when the plane veered off course and headed toward JFK Airport.
The spokesperson added in his statement: “As a Turkish Airlines family, we wish God’s mercy for our captain and patience for his grieving family, all his colleagues and loved ones.”
Flight trackers show the plane’s path Tuesday night before it was abruptly diverted to JFK International Airport.
The plane is said to have landed safely in New York and the passengers continued their journey to Türkiye via JFK.