OAN Staff James Meyers
8:03 AM – Wednesday, October 9, 2024
A Turkish Airlines pilot died after collapsing mid-flight, causing the Turkish national carrier to make an emergency landing at JFK International Airport in New York, according to the airline.
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The mayhem occurred after the plane took off from Seattle on Tuesday evening, airline spokesman Yahya Üstün wrote on social media.
Pilot İlçehin Pehlivan, 59, lost consciousness at some point after Flight TK204 took off from Seattle Tuesday night, Üstün said.
“The pilot of our Airbus 350… flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight,” he wrote. “After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing.”
According to the spokesman, Pehlivan underwent a periodic health exam on August 3rd and was given a clean bill of health by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation.
Meanwhile, the passengers on diverted flight TK204 will be flown to Istanbul from JFK International the airline stated.
“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,” Üstün said.
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