Turkish Airlines airplanes parked at Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul.
A Turkish Airlines flight en route Istanbul from Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in New York after one of the pilots collapsed mid-flight, the airline confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident happened shortly after the flight departed from Seattle on Tuesday evening. Despite immediate efforts to administer first aid, the 59-year-old pilot died before the plane could land, a statement from Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Ustun, shared on social media, disclosed.
The Airbus A350, operating as flight TK204, was diverted to New York by the co-pilot and remaining flight crew. The pilot had been with the airline since 2007 and had recently passed a routine medical examination in March, which showed no health concerns.
