A Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday morning following the sudden death of one of its pilots midflight.
Flight 204, en route from Seattle to Istanbul, was diverted to New York at approximately 6 a.m. after Captain İlçehin Pehlivan lost consciousness during the journey.
According to a statement from the airline, initial medical intervention was administered but proved ineffective, prompting the co-pilot to reroute the aircraft to JFK.
The Airbus A320, with two other pilots on board due to the long-haul nature of the flight, landed safely and was immediately met by emergency personnel upon arrival.
Turkish Airlines confirmed that Captain Pehlivan, 59, died before the aircraft touched down. He had been with the airline since 2009 and had his last routine health check on March 8, 2024.
No health issues were identified at the time that would have prevented him from fulfilling his duties as a pilot, the airline stated.
Expressing his condolences, Yahya Üstün, Senior Vice President of Media Relations at Turkish Airlines, posted a heartfelt message on X: “We deeply feel the loss of our captain and extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family, colleagues, and all his loved ones.”
The airline is working to accommodate passengers affected by the incident, rebooking them on alternate flights departing from New York.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Turkish Airlines has not released further details on Captain Pehlivan’s condition or the cause of his death at this time.
This incident has highlighted the importance of having multiple qualified pilots on board long-haul international flights, ensuring the safety and continuity of operations in the event of unforeseen emergencies.
