A recent Turkish Airlines (TK) flight headed from Istanbul International Airport (TK) to New York John F Kennedy (JFK) was diverted to Budapest after a medical emergency on the flight. Reuters reported that an 11-year-old boy fell unconscious onboard and soon passed away.
Medics quickly rushed to the aircraft after its emergency landing at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD); however, they could not resuscitate the child. An ambulance met the flight and transported the young boy and his family to a local hospital.
A statement from Budapest airport
The reasoning behind the child’s death has not yet been announced. However, BUD released this statement as reported in the NY Post:
“Airport Medical Service (AMS), the medical service operating at Ferenc Liszt International Airport, was alerted to the aircraft and continued to resuscitate the child. Unfortunately, his life could not be saved despite the rapid and professional intervention. The aircraft continued its journey to its original destination.”
Flight details
According to data from Flightradar24.com, TK3 departed Istanbul at 08:56, some 90 minutes behind schedule (originally expected to leave at 07:35). The flight then requested emergency landing above Hungary, with the aircraft touching down at 10:30. Once medical personnel met with the child and family, and was escorted quickly to the hospital, the aircraft then remained at Budapest, before departing at 12:59, for the remaining eight hour and 45 mins, touching down in New York at 15:44 local time.
The return flight, TK4, has yet to depart from New York back to Istanbul but appears to be operating on time. The aircraft operating the return trip was one of Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300′s, TC-JOA, a nine-year-old plane with serial number 1501.
