Turkish Airlines Passenger Dies Mid-Flight, The Body Has Mysteriously Disappeared

1 day ago

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 20:56 IST

Typically, in the event of a medical emergency, flight crews seek the nearest airport for an emergency landing.

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Natalia Derevyanny, a spokesperson for the office, told that there was no record of a deceased on the said flight (Photo Credits: X)

A passenger on a Turkish Airlines flight bound for San Francisco died mid-air earlier this month. In a bizarre twist, the body of the deceased has since gone missing, according to a report by Aviation A2Z.

The incident occurred on July 13 aboard Turkish Airlines Flight TK79, which was en route from Istanbul to San Francisco. The passenger, whose identity and nationality have not yet been disclosed, reportedly suffered a medical emergency and died during the flight.

Initially, the crew considered diverting the aircraft to Keflavik Airport in Iceland, which would have allowed the body to be handled before reaching North America. However, they ultimately decided to continue toward the US, reportedly to remain within US jurisdiction for legal and procedural clarity.

Typically, in the event of a medical emergency, flight crews seek the nearest airport for an emergency landing. However, in the unfortunate event of a death, the urgency to land immediately is often reconsidered, especially if the passenger has already passed away.

Upon entering the US airspace, the crew diverted the flight to Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD), a major hub equipped to handle medical and emergency situations. Turkish Airlines’ US station manager, Ertugrul Gulsen, confirmed that the rest of the passengers were rebooked on alternate flights to complete their journey to San Francisco.

According to standard protocol, the body of a deceased passenger on a flight landing in Chicago is to be handed over to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. However, in a surprising development, Natalia Derevyanny, a spokesperson for the office, told SFGATE that there was no record of receiving any body from that flight.

To date, the whereabouts of the deceased passenger’s remains remain unknown, and Turkish Airlines has not disclosed any further details, including the person’s name or nationality. The mystery has raised serious questions about how the situation was handled after landing.

This isn’t the first time when the Turkish Airlines has experienced a mid-air fatality. In October 2024, pilot Ilcehin Pehlivan died mid-flight while traveling from Seattle after suffering a medical emergency.

So far, the current incident that took place on July 13 remains under investigation.

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