Turkish Airlines pilot dies mid-flight

A Turkish Airlines flight en route to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing in New York after its captain, İlçehin Pehlivan, tragically died mid-flight. The plane had departed from Seattle on Wednesday, but the 59-year-old pilot fainted during the journey, prompting urgent action by the crew.

Yahya Üstün, a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines, explained that the onboard crew attempted emergency treatment to revive Captain Pehlivan but were unsuccessful.

READ ALSO: NCAA cautions pilots, airlines as NiMet alerts Nigerians of dust haze

“The cockpit crew, consisting of one captain and one co-pilot, decided to make an emergency landing when the first medical intervention was ineffective. Sadly, our captain lost his life before the plane could land,” Üstün said.

Pehlivan had worked with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had recently passed a medical examination earlier this year, showing no signs of any health issues. The airline expressed profound sadness over his passing, offering condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Passengers were safely diverted to New York, where arrangements were made for them to continue their journey to Istanbul.