In a tragic incident, a Turkish Airlines flight en route from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing in New York after the pilot suffered a medical emergency mid-flight. The airline confirmed that the captain, İlçehin Pehlivan, lost consciousness while operating the Airbus A350 aircraft, registered under TC-LGR and operating as flight TK204. Despite immediate medical assistance from a doctor on board, Pehlivan sadly passed away before the aircraft could land.
Captain Pehlivan, aged 59, has been with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and recently passed his routine medical examination on March 8, 2024, at the Aviation Medical Center, which is authorized by Turkey’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation. At the time of his examination, no health issues were detected that would have prevented him from fulfilling his duties.
Upon the captain’s medical emergency, the remaining cockpit crew, consisting of a co-pilot and a first officer, took swift action to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew. They diverted the flight and successfully executed an emergency landing in New York. Arrangements are currently being made to facilitate the return of passengers to Istanbul from New York.
Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün expressed condolences on behalf of the airline, extending sympathies to Pehlivan’s grieving family, colleagues, and loved ones. “As the Turkish Airlines family, we pray for our captain’s soul and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him,” he stated.
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