A flight from Istanbul to Lahore was forced to make an emergency landing in Baku after a passenger passed away mid-flight.
According to aviation sources, Turkish Airlines flight TK 714 was scheduled to land at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport at 4:35 AM. However, while in Azerbaijani airspace, a passenger’s health severely deteriorated.
The pilot requested an emergency landing from Baku Air Traffic Control, which was promptly granted. The Airbus A330 landed at Baku Airport, where emergency medical personnel examined the passenger, who was sadly declared deceased upon arrival.
Following the completion of the necessary formalities, the passenger’s body was transferred to the airline’s administration. The flight then continued its journey to Lahore after a two-and-a-half-hour delay, arriving three and a half hours behind schedule, which also affected its subsequent departure to Istanbul.
In related news, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier, temporarily suspended flights to Turkey as of September 28 due to outstanding payments for essential inventory and airport slots at Istanbul Airport. Consequently, PIA flights to Turkey are halted until October 13.
PIA currently operates four weekly flights from Islamabad and Lahore to Turkey.