A Turkish Airlines pilot tragically died after collapsing mid-flight, prompting the airline to make an emergency landing in New York, the airline announced on Wednesday.
The flight departed from Seattle on Tuesday evening, according to Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Ustun, who shared the news on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The pilot of our Airbus 350 on flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight,” Ustun wrote.
Despite attempts to administer first aid, the flight crew, consisting of another pilot and co-pilot, decided to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the pilot passed away before the plane could land.
The 59-year-old pilot, who had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007, had undergone a medical examination in March, which revealed no health issues, Ustun added.
