A Turkish Airlines flight traveling from Seattle, Washington to Istanbul, Turkey was compelled to perform an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City after the flight’s captain, İlçehin Pehlivan, collapsed during the flight and later died.
The airline confirmed the event, which began on October 8, 2024. It was reported that emergency personnel met the Airbus A350 on the runway as it landed. The 59-year-old captain was in command of Flight TK204, which had started its journey from Seattle on Tuesday night, and was on its transatlantic flight when the medical emergency occurred.
Yahya Üstün, Turkish Airlines’ senior vice president of media relations, reported that the pilot of their Airbus 350 flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight. “After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew… decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.”
Flight tracking company, FlightAware, mentioned that the aircraft was over northern Canada when it was redirected towards New York City. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight touched down safely around 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Emergency medical services were immediately available, and passengers were later reassigned to other flights to reach their destinations.
Üstün, on behalf of the airline, expressed condolences, stating that the loss of their captain was deeply felt. He also extended heartfelt sympathies to his family, colleagues, and everyone who knew him.
Captain Pehlivan had been a part of the Turkish Airlines team since 2007. His most recent medical check-up, conducted in March, revealed no health conditions that could have affected his ability to pilot a plane. The airline confirmed that he had cleared all necessary health screenings before the incident occurred.
In-flight pilot incapacitation, while rare, is a critical event. On commercial flights, such occurrences are estimated to occur between 0.1 and 0.3 times per million flight hours, often resulting from cardiovascular problems, gastroenteritis, or hypoxia.
The safeguard of a two-pilot system typically ensures passenger safety, as the remaining pilot can assume control. Notably, in 2015, an American Airlines pilot passed away mid-flight, and the co-pilot successfully diverted the plane to Syracuse, New York. A recent FAA report highlighted the significance of rigorous medical screenings and recurrent training to mitigate risks, emphasizing that multi-pilot cockpits maintain safety even if a pilot becomes incapacitated.
The FAA and local emergency services collaborated with Turkish Airlines to ensure the safety of all passengers and to make necessary arrangements following the diversion. Turkish Airlines stated its main priority was to support the passengers and the family of the deceased captain during this challenging time.