A Turkish Airways pilot has died after turning into in poor health on his personal flight from Seattle on the north-west coast of america to Istanbul in Turkey.
Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, collapsed mid-air and a second pilot and co-pilot took over the controls, an airline spokesman mentioned on X.
“When first help to our captain on the aircraft was unsuccessful, the cockpit crew… determined to make an emergency touchdown, however he died earlier than touchdown,” Yahya Ustun defined.
The Airbus A350 aircraft landed in New York and plans have been then made to fly the passengers on to Turkey from there, he added.
Flight TK204 took off from Seattle shortly after 19:00 on Tuesday night. The pilot seems to have gotten into bother over the Canadian territory of Nunavut, earlier than his colleagues took over and headed for John F Kennedy airport.
Pehlivan had flown with Turkish Airways since 2007 and had been given an everyday well being examine in early March, which discovered no well being drawback that may have an effect on his job, the airline mentioned.
Turkey’s air visitors controllers’ affiliation, TATCA, mentioned he had served the aviation neighborhood for a few years and provided its condolences to his household, mates and colleagues.
The reason for the pilot’s loss of life has not been launched. Pilots should bear medical exams each 12 months, whereas these aged over 40 should renew their medical certificates each six months.
In 2015, an American Airways pilot aged 57 collapsed and died throughout an in a single day flight from Phoenix to Boston.
The primary officer took over and made an emergency touchdown in Syracuse.