Turkish Airlines Flight TK204, which was flying from Seattle to Istanbul on October 9, 2024, was forced to make an emergency landing at JFK Airport in New York after its captain, İlçehin Pehlivan, collapsed mid-flight. Despite the crew’s best efforts to provide medical assistance, Captain Pehlivan sadly passed away before the plane could land. He was 59 years old and had been with the airline for 17 years(
At the time of the incident, the aircraft was over the Atlantic Ocean, and quick thinking by the co-pilot ensured that the flight diverted safely to New York. Captain Pehlivan had passed a routine medical check in March, showing no signs of health problems, which makes his sudden collapse particularly shocking(
The incident underscores the significant role that co-pilots play in ensuring passenger safety during emergencies, as well as the effectiveness of aviation protocols that handle such critical situations. It also highlights the unpredictable nature of in-flight medical emergencies, even with experienced personnel who regularly undergo medical evaluations.
source : AirlineGeeks.com | and GulfNews