A Turkish Airways pilot died after collapsing mid-flight, forcing the Turkish nationwide provider to make an emergency touchdown in New York, the airline mentioned Wednesday. The incident occurred after the aircraft took off from Seattle on Tuesday night, airline spokesman Yahya Ustun wrote on social media.
“The pilot of our Airbus 350… flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul collapsed through the flight,” he wrote. “After an unsuccessful try to present first help, the flight crew of one other pilot and a co-pilot determined to make an emergency touchdown, however he died earlier than touchdown.”
A map posted by flight monitoring information firm FlightAware seems to indicate the aircraft flying over northern Canada earlier than diverting south towards New York.
In an announcement, the FAA mentioned the flight “landed safely at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport in New York round 6 a.m. native time on Wednesday, October 9, after the one of many pilots suffered a medical emergency.”
The 59-year-old pilot, who had labored for Turkish Airways since 2007, had handed a medical examination in March, throughout which there was no indication of any well being issues, Ustun wrote.
“We want God’s mercy upon our captain and persistence to his grieving household, all his colleagues and family members,” he mentioned.