On October 9, CBS reported a tragic incident involving Turkish Airlines flight TK204, which was en route from Seattle to Istanbul on the evening of October 8. Shortly after takeoff, the 59-year-old captain, Ilcehin Pehlivan, suddenly collapsed. The first officer was forced to make an emergency landing in New York, where the captain was later pronounced dead.

Yahya Ustun, a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines, confirmed that Captain Pehlivan was piloting an Airbus A350, which took off from Seattle at 7:02 PM. However, shortly after departure, he lost consciousness.

The statement described the situation as an “emergency,” indicating that Captain Pehlivan lost awareness during the flight. Efforts were made by the crew to revive him, but unfortunately, their attempts were unsuccessful. The first officer ultimately made the crucial decision to divert the flight to New York, but tragically, Captain Pehlivan was declared dead before the aircraft arrived there.

Flight tracking website FlightAware noted that as the flight was flying over Northern Canada eight hours after takeoff, it abruptly changed course toward New York.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement confirming that the flight safely landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 6 AM on October 9, following the captain’s medical emergency.

Ustun shared that Captain Pehlivan had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had passed a medical examination in March of this year, with records showing no health issues that would impede his duties.

In closing, the airline expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Captain Pehlivan, extending heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends.