A Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing when Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, tragically collapsed mid-flight. The incident occurred aboard Flight TK204, which had departed from Seattle on Tuesday evening. As Pehlivan became incapacitated, the second pilot and co-pilot took immediate control of the aircraft.
Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün addressed the situation, explaining that despite attempts to provide first aid to the captain, efforts were unsuccessful. The cockpit crew made the difficult decision to divert the flight and land at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, where the emergency landing took place just before 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Captain Pehlivan passed away before the plane could land safely.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Üstün expressed deep sorrow: "As Turkish Airlines, we profoundly feel the loss of our captain and extend our sincerest condolences to his grieving family, colleagues, and all who knew him."
Captain Pehlivan had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007, and a routine medical exam conducted in March revealed no health concerns that would have restricted him from flying. The exact cause of his death has not yet been disclosed, and inquiries to Turkish Airlines for further comment have been made.
Pilots are generally required to undergo medical examinations annually, with bi-annual exams for those over the age of 40 to ensure fitness for duty.
This tragic event follows another recent mid-flight emergency where a woman had to take control of a private plane after her pilot husband experienced a heart attack. In that case, the passenger, with no formal flight training, was guided by air traffic controllers to safely land the plane.
As the aviation community mourns the loss of Captain Pehlivan, Turkish Airlines continues to extend its support to his loved ones during this difficult time.
