A Turkish Airlines flight bound for Istanbul made an emergency landing at New York’s JFK airport early Wednesday after the sudden death of its captain.
The Airbus A350-900 was en route from Seattle to Istanbul when the plane made a sharp turn towards New York, as shown by data from FlightAware, a flight tracking site. The pilot, identified as 59-year-old Ilcehin Pehlivan, collapsed mid-flight, according to airline spokesperson Yahya Ustun.
Efforts to revive Pehlivan were unsuccessful, and the flight’s remaining crew, consisting of a co-pilot and another pilot, made the decision to divert the flight to JFK. Unfortunately, Pehlivan passed away before the plane landed safely at 6 a.m.
Pehlivan, who had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007, had recently undergone a medical examination in March, which revealed no health issues, Ustun said.
In a statement, the airline expressed its condolences, saying, “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.”
