A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday after the pilot collapsed and later died mid-flight. The incident occurred aboard Flight 204, which had departed from Seattle on Tuesday night.
The captain of the flight, 59-year-old Ilcehin Pehlivan, lost consciousness shortly after takeoff, prompting the crew to take immediate action. Despite efforts to revive him, Ilcehin Pehlivan could not be saved. A spokesperson for Turkish Airlines, Yahya Ustun, confirmed the tragic news in a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). He explained that a second pilot and a co-pilot took control of the aircraft and made the emergency landing.
Flight data from tracking service FlightAware showed that the plane landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport at approximately 6 am local time, roughly eight hours after departing from Seattle. Arrangements were made for passengers to continue their journey from New York to their final destination in Istanbul.
Ilcehin Pehlivan had been a pilot with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had undergone a routine health examination as recently as March 8 of this year. The examination did not indicate any health issues that would have prevented him from flying. Ustun emphasized that the airline follows strict medical protocols for its flight crews, with pilots required to undergo medical examinations every 12 months, and those over the age of 40 required to renew their medical certificates every six months.
The cause of the pilot’s death remains unknown, and there has been no official statement regarding the specific circumstances that led to his collapse. Ilcehin Pehlivan’s sudden death has left the airline community in mourning, with Turkish Airlines expressing deep sorrow for the loss. In his statement, Ustun added, “On behalf of Turkish Airlines, we deeply feel the loss of our captain and extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family, colleagues, and all his loved ones.”
Turkish Airlines has not yet announced whether an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ilcehin Pehlivan’s death will take place. The airline has reassured passengers that the crew handled the situation professionally, and their safety was maintained throughout the flight.
The tragic event highlights the rare but significant risks faced by airline crews and the critical importance of maintaining robust medical oversight for those operating aircraft.
