Turkish Airlines Pilot Who Dropped Dead Mid Flight, Forcing Emergency Landing Identified

59-year-old Ilcehin Pehlivan (Credit: Turkish Airlines)

A Turkish Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at JFK Airport following the mid-air death of its captaining pilot.

The pilot, identified as 59-year-old Ilcehin Pehlivan, had undergone a routine health check in March, with no abnormalities reported. He had been employed by Turkish Airlines for about 17 years.