A Turkish Airlines aircraft on route from Seattle, Washington to Istanbul, Turkey was forced to execute an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City after Captain İlçehin Pehlivan, one of its pilots, collapsed during the flight and later died.
The airline verified the unfortunate incident, which happened on October 8, 2024. The Airbus A350 was met by emergency personnel on the runway upon touching down. Captain Pehlivan, aged 59, was at the helm of Flight TK204, which had departed from Seattle the previous night for its transatlantic voyage, when he suffered a medical crisis.
“The pilot of our Airbus 350… flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight,” announced Yahya Üstün, Senior Vice President of Media Relations for Turkish Airlines. “After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew… decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.”
FlightAware, a company specializing in tracking flights, reported that the plane was over northern Canada when it altered course for New York City. The flight touched down safely around 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Emergency medical services were instantly on the scene, and passengers were subsequently accommodated on alternative flights to their respective destinations.
On behalf of the airline, Üstün extended his condolences, stating that the loss of their captain was deeply felt, and offered heartfelt sympathies to his family, colleagues, and all those close to him.
Captain Pehlivan had been a part of Turkish Airlines since 2007. His latest routine medical checkup, conducted in March, had revealed no signs of health concerns that could have affected his ability to fly. Turkish Airlines confirmed that he had cleared all mandatory health assessments prior to the incident.
Pilot incapacitation during flight is a rare yet serious occurrence. On commercial flights, such incidents are estimated to occur between 0.1 and 0.3 per million flight hours, often triggered by cardiovascular problems, gastroenteritis, or hypoxia.
The two-pilot system’s redundancy generally assures passenger safety, as the other pilot can assume the controls. In a notable 2015 incident, an American Airlines pilot died mid-flight, and the first officer successfully diverted the plane to Syracuse, New York. A recent FAA report highlights the necessity of rigorous medical screenings and ongoing training to mitigate risks, emphasizing that multi-pilot cockpits help maintain safety even if one pilot becomes incapacitated.
The FAA and local emergency services collaborated with Turkish Airlines to ensure the safety of all passengers and made arrangements following the diversion. Turkish Airlines highlighted that its priority was to assist the passengers and the late captain’s family during this challenging time.
