Pilot dies flying Turkish Airlines plane from US to Turkey

A Turkish Airlines pilot has died after becoming ill on his own flight from Seattle on the north-west coast of the United States to Istanbul in Turkey.

Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, collapsed mid-air and a second pilot and co-pilot took over the controls, an airline spokesman said on X.

"When first aid to our captain on the plane was unsuccessful, the cockpit crew... decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing," Yahya Ustun explained.

The Airbus 350 plane landed in New York and plans were then made to fly the passengers on to Turkey from there, he added.

Pehlivan had flown with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had been given a regular health check in early March which found no health problem that might affect his job, the airline said.

Turkey's air traffic controllers' association TATCA said he had served the aviation community for many years and offered its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.