Turkish Airlines pilot’s death mid-flight prompts emergency landing in New York

A Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing at New York’s John F Kennedy airport after its 59-year-old captain died mid-flight.

Flight 8JK, an Airbus A350-900, landed around 6am, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, after initial medical intervention to help the man who had lost consciousness onboard proved ineffective. A co-pilot took over the plane and successfully landed it.

The dead pilot has been identified as Ilcehin Pehlivan. Turkish Airlines told NBC News that it had employed him since 2007 and he last had a routine health check in March when no health issues that would affect his duties were found.

“As Turkish Airlines, we deeply feel the loss of our captain and extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family, colleagues, and all his loved ones,” the airline said in a statement.

The airline said arrangements are being made for passengers to return to Istanbul out of JFK.

The FAA requires two crew members in the cockpit at all times and pilots over 40 are required by the agency to get two physical examinations a year.

In 2015, an American Airlines pilot died after becoming ill on an overnight red-eye flight from Phoenix to Boston.