Turkish Airlines Pilot Dies During Flight: Emergency Landing in New York

A tragic event unfolded on a Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul when the pilot lost his life mid-air. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when 59-year-old Captain Ilin Pedan unexpectedly became unconscious during the lengthy 12-hour journey, forcing the crew to reroute the aircraft and direct it toward New York.

The Airbus A350, assigned to flight TK24, was flying over Canadian airspace before veering near Baffin Island. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane successfully touched down at John F. Kennedy International Airport at approximately 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

The Crew’s Swift Action Prevents Disaster

Owing to the quick thinking of the co-pilot, the aircraft was safely diverted, preventing any possible loss of control. The captain, who had passed a health check in March, had been employed with Turkish Airlines since 2007. Unfortunately, despite medical assistance provided on board, Captain Pedan passed away before the plane landed.

Experts in aviation point out that incidents like this are exceedingly rare given the vast number of flights operating globally each day. The dual-pilot system ensures that, even in the case of sudden illness affecting one pilot, the other can take control of the aircraft, which was demonstrated once again in this instance.