Panic as pilot slumps, dies mid-flight, forcing emergency landing

A Turkish Airlines pilot tragically passed away after collapsing mid-flight, prompting an emergency landing in New York, the airline confirmed on Wednesday.

The flight, which had departed from Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday evening, was en route when the pilot fell ill.

In response, the crew made the critical decision to divert the plane to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to seek emergency assistance.

Yahya Ustun, a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines, shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), expressing condolences and confirming the unfortunate incident.

“The pilot of our Airbus 350… flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed during the flight,” he wrote.

“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 59-year-old pilot, who had worked for Turkish Airlines since 2007, had passed a medical examination in March, which gave no indication of any health problems, Ustun wrote.