Turkish Airlines pilot dies onboard flight, causing emergency landing at JFK airport

A Turkish Airlines pilot died onboard a flight, forcing it to make an emergency landing at New York’s JFK airport on Wednesday morning, according to officials at the airline.

The Airbus A350-900 was reportedly going to Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, from Seattle. It had to make a sharp turn to New York City on its journey.

Ilcehin Pehlivan, the 59-year-old pilot, had collapsed during the flight and died, according to Turkish airline spokesman Yahya Ustun on X.

“After an unsuccessful attempt to give first aid, the flight crew of another pilot and a co-pilot decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing,” the spokesperson wrote.