What started as a normal long-haul flight from Seattle to Istanbul turned into a heartbreaking tragedy on Thursday, when a Turkish Airlines pilot suddenly passed away mid-flight.
Turkish Airlines Flight 204 had been flying smoothly over the Atlantic when 59-year-old Captain İlçehin Pehlivan, one of the senior pilots on board, suddenly collapsed in the cockpit.
Despite quick efforts from the co-pilot and the cabin crew to revive him, the veteran pilot could not be saved.
The co-pilot, clearly shaken, radioed air traffic control for emergency assistance. “Initially we had three pilots, but we lost one of our captains today. That’s why we’re diverting to JFK,” he said in a voice that carried both shock and sorrow.
Upon hearing the distress call, air traffic controllers at New York’s JFK Airport quickly cleared a path for an emergency landing and arranged for paramedics to be on standby.
The aircraft landed safely at dawn, greeted by emergency vehicles and a somber silence among passengers and crew.
Turkish Airlines later confirmed the captain’s passing in a statement, expressing deep condolences to his family and colleagues. “Captain Pehlivan was an experienced and respected member of our aviation family, having served the airline faithfully for nearly 20 years,” the airline said.
Sources close to the airline revealed that Captain Pehlivan had passed his last medical check just months earlier and had shown no prior health issues. Colleagues described him as a dedicated professional who loved flying and often mentored younger pilots.
After medical officials confirmed his death, passengers were transferred to another aircraft to continue their journey to Istanbul, while the captain’s body remained in New York for further arrangements.
Aviation experts said such in-flight medical emergencies among pilots are rare but not unheard of. Airlines typically ensure at least two or three pilots are present on long international flights precisely for such emergencies.
The tragedy has sparked renewed discussion in the aviation industry about pilot health, workload, and regular medical monitoring, especially for those flying long routes across time zones.
For the passengers and crew of Flight 204, it was a reminder of both the fragility of life and the professionalism of those who keep millions safe in the skies every day.
“Captain Pehlivan spent his life among the clouds,” a Turkish Airlines spokesperson said. “It is deeply saddening that he took his final flight in the same skies he loved so much.”
