Turkish Airlines pilot dies during flight, forcing emergency landing at JFK

A Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing at New York’s JFK early Wednesday after the captain died onboard, airline officials said.

The Airbus A350-900 was heading from Seattle to Turkish capital Istanbul when it made an extreme turn toward the Big Apple, data from flight tracking site FlightAware shows.

The 59-year-old pilot, identified as Ilcehin Pehlivan, “collapsed” during the flight, airline spokesman Yahya Ustun wrote on X.

“After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing,” the spokesperson said.

The crew decided to divert to JFK airport, where the plane landed safely shortly before 6 a.m.

Pehlivan had worked for Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had just passed a medical examination in March that showed no health problems, Ustun said.

“As the Turkish Airlines family, we wish God’s mercy upon our captain and patience to his grieving family, all his colleagues and loved ones,” the spokesperson said.