A Turkish Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in New York after the pilot suffered a medical emergency while flying the plane and died, according to a translated statement from the airline posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Airbus A350-900 was heading from Seattle to Istanbul, but made an unexpected landing at JFK Airport after the plane's captain, 59-year-old Ilcehin Pehlivan, “crashed” some time after takeoff.
The flight left Seattle at 19:00 local time. According to FlightAware, the medical incident occurred during the plane's transit over Nunavut, Canada. “The flight crew, consisting of another pilot and co-pilot, decided to make an emergency landing after an unsuccessful first aid attempt,” airline spokesman Yahya Üstün said.
The decision was made to divert to JFK, but unfortunately Pehlivan died before the plane could land. Üstün said, “As the Turkish Airlines family, we wish God's mercy on our captain and patience to his grieving family, all his colleagues and loved ones.”
BBC He noted that the Turkish Air Traffic Controllers Association (TATCA) also expressed its condolences to Pehlivan's family and that Pehlivan served the aviation community for many years.
The cause of Pehlivan's death has not yet been determined. He had been working at Turkish Airlines since 2007. The airline confirmed that he underwent a routine medical examination in March and no medical problems were detected. Pilots under the age of 40 must undergo a medical examination every 12 months, while pilots over the age of 40 must renew their medical credentials every six months.