Turkish Airlines Pilot Dies Mid-Flight, Forces Emergency Landing

A Turkish Airlines flight en route from Seattle to Istanbul had to make an emergency landing in New York after the pilot suffered a medical emergency mid-flight. The incident occurred on Turkish Airlines Flight 8JK, which departed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 7:02 p.m. PT on Tuesday. The flight was forced to divert to John F. Kennedy International Airport after the pilot became incapacitated.

Captain İlçehin Pehlivan, 59, "fainted during the flight," Turkish Airlines reported. Despite immediate medical efforts onboard, "medical intervention to our captain on the plane was ineffective," the airline said. In response, the co-pilot took control and safely landed the plane at JFK Airport.

Pehlivan has been a part of Turkish Airlines since 2007. Sadly, "our captain lost his life before landing," the airline confirmed in a statement. Authorities are now investigating the incident.

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