Tragic Incident: Turkish Airlines Pilot Dies Mid-Flight
In a rare and tragic event, a Turkish Airlines pilot, İlçehin Pehlivan, passed away mid-flight, leading to an emergency landing in New York. The incident occurred on Flight 204, which had taken off from Seattle on Tuesday night, destined for Istanbul. Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün confirmed that the 59-year-old captain lost consciousness during the flight, and despite attempts at first aid, he could not be revived before the plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday morning.
The Airbus A350, carrying passengers from the US west coast, was forced to divert to New York shortly after the captain fainted. The two other pilots in the cockpit acted quickly to ensure the safety of the passengers by initiating an emergency landing. Pehlivan, who had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007, had recently passed a routine medical examination with no reported health issues that would have affected his ability to fly.
This tragic event has reignited discussions about pilot regulations in the aviation industry. Currently, global standards require a minimum of two pilots on board, which increases to three for long-haul flights. This rule is designed to ensure that if one pilot becomes incapacitated, the other can safely take control of the aircraft. However, there is an ongoing debate led by the European Cockpit Association regarding proposals for single-pilot operations in commercial flights, which has raised concerns among pilots and safety advocates alike.
