A sudden tragedy struck during Turkish Airlines flight TK204, as Captain İlçehin Pehlivan unexpectedly passed away mid-flight. The Airbus 350, en route from Seattle to Istanbul, was compelled to make an emergency landing in New York, as reported by the airline.
Yahya Üstün, a spokesperson for Turkey's national airline, headquartered in Istanbul, shared on social media: "Our captain, İlçehin Pehlivan, aboard aircraft TC-LGR, lost consciousness during the journey. Despite immediate medical efforts on board, which proved unsuccessful, the crew opted for an emergency landing. Sadly, Captain Pehlivan passed away before reaching the ground."
At 59 years old, Pehlivan had been a dedicated employee of Turkish Airlines since 2007. A routine medical examination conducted in March 2024 revealed no health issues that would have hindered his ability to perform his duties as a pilot, emphasized the airline's statement.
Following the incident, the flight was redirected to New York, where arrangements were made to ensure passengers could continue to their intended destination. "As the Turkish Airlines family, we wish him eternal peace and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends," the airline expressed.
Not an Isolated Incident in Aviation
This incident marks the first of its kind for the Turkish carrier, though similar occurrences have been noted in the commercial aviation sector. In 2022, two pilots died during flights, one involving an Envoy Air pilot in the U.S. and another with a Citilink Indonesia pilot in Southeast Asia. Additionally, in 2023, a LATAM Airlines pilot suffered cardiac arrest and died while flying from Miami to Chile.