Turkish Airlines flight TK79, en route from Istanbul to San Francisco, was forced to change course due to a medical emergency. The aircraft, which departed around 2:30 PM, experienced the incident while flying over Greenland. As the crew prepared to divert to Iceland, the situation took a tragic turn.
Cabin Crew Performed CPR for Minutes
According to Aviation A2Z, the passenger suddenly became ill on board. The cabin crew immediately began CPR and established radio contact with medical personnel on the ground. Despite their rapid and coordinated response, the passenger could not be revived.
Pilots Divert to Chicago for Emergency Landing
Once the passenger’s death was confirmed, the crew reassessed the situation and determined the most suitable airport for an emergency landing. The pilots opted to divert to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the nearest major hub where medical services were available. The aircraft landed at 6:20 PM local time and resumed its journey to San Francisco after approximately one hour.
Passengers Witnessed CPR, Privacy Maintained
Sources indicated that other passengers on board witnessed the CPR efforts. During the emergency, the crew took care to protect the passenger’s privacy by covering the area with a blanket.
Death Protocols Followed
According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines, flight crews are required to continue life-saving measures until there are no signs of life and CPR proves ineffective for at least 30 minutes. Once death is confirmed, the body is either restrained in a seat or respectfully covered with a blanket.
Turkish Airlines Faced a Similar Tragedy Before
A similar incident occurred in October last year when Turkish Airlines captain İlçehin Pehlivan lost consciousness during a flight from Istanbul to Seattle. The co-pilot made an emergency landing in New York, but Pehlivan could not be saved. At the time, Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Üstün expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our captain,” and extended condolences to his loved ones.
In-Flight Deaths Are Rare, But Real
While deaths during commercial flights are rare, they are not unheard of. According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 6,354 deaths occurred on general aviation flights between 2008 and 2023.
