A Turkish Airlines pilot tragically passed away mid-flight, prompting the airline to make an emergency landing in New York.
The airline confirmed the incident on Wednesday. According to Turkish Airlines spokesman, Yahya Ustun, the plane, an Airbus 350, had taken off from Seattle on Tuesday evening and was en route to Istanbul when the 59-year-old pilot collapsed during the flight.
“The pilot of our Airbus 350… flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight,” Ustun shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Despite efforts to give the pilot first aid, he sadly passed away before the plane could land. The flight crew, consisting of another pilot and co-pilot, made the decision to divert and perform an emergency landing in New York.
Ustun revealed that the pilot, who had been working for Turkish Airlines since 2007, had undergone a medical examination in March, which showed no signs of any health issues.
