Turkish Airlines Pilot Dies Mid-Flight, Emergency Landing Made in New York

A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing in New York after one of its pilots collapsed and tragically passed away during the flight. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, according to an airline statement shared by spokesperson Yahya Ustun on X, previously known as Twitter.

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Ustun revealed that the pilot of the Airbus 350, operating under flight number TK204, collapsed mid-flight. Despite the crew’s immediate first aid efforts, including assistance from another pilot and the co-pilot, the pilot passed away before the aircraft could land.

The 59-year-old pilot, who had served with Turkish Airlines since 2007, had undergone a medical checkup in March, which indicated no health concerns.