Turkish Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Pilot Dies

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja 

 A Turkish Airlines flight has made an emergency landing at JFK International Airport, New York after the pilot lost consciousness mid-flight, the airline said Wednesday. 

According to Turkish Airlines spokesman Yahya Üstün, the plane had taken off from Seattle on Tuesday and was intended to land in Istanbul, however, the pilot collapsed during the flight and he died after attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. 

Üstün, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, noted, “The pilot of our Airbus 350, flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight.

“After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.”

The flight tracking website FlightAware showed that Turkish Airlines flight TK204 departed from Seattle on Tuesday at 7:02 p.m. and landed at JFK on Wednesday at 5:57 a.m.

Turkish Airlines identified the pilot as İlçehin Pehlivan, 59, who had worked for the airline since 2007. 

According to the spokesman, Pehlivan underwent a periodic health exam on August 3 and was given a clean bill of health by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. 

The diverted flight TK204 will be flown to Istanbul from JFK International, according to the airline. 

“As the Turkish Airlines family, we wish God’s mercy upon our captain and patience to his grieving family, all his colleagues and loved ones,” Üstün said.