Turkish Airlines Pilot DIES Suddenly During Flight from US, Forces Emergency Landing

The Story: A flight from Seattle to Istanbul had to make an emergency landing in New York when the pilot died mid-flight [KING]

A tragic incident occurred on October 9, 2024, when a Turkish Airlines pilot died mid-flight on a journey from Seattle to Istanbul. The 59-year-old captain collapsed shortly after takeoff, prompting the co-pilot to divert the aircraft to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for an emergency landing around 6 a.m. local time.

Despite immediate medical assistance from crew members, the pilot’s condition did not improve, and he was pronounced dead before the plane landed. He had been with Turkish Airlines since 2009 and had recently passed a routine medical examination in March 2024, with no reported health issues.