On Sunday, an 11-year-old girl died after becoming ill during a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to New York. The flight crew diverted the plane to Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport to make an emergency landing and provide medical care for the child. Despite an onboard doctor’s swift and professional assistance and subsequent on-ground emergency medical teams, the girl couldn’t be saved.
The medical emergency occurred mid-flight, prompting the captain to redirect the plane to the airport in Budapest. A doctor, who was one of the passengers on board, attempted to help the child, yet her life could not be saved.
The young girl’s family members disembarked the aircraft in Budapest, while the flight continued with a four-and-a-half-hour delay. The girl’s identity has not been released, and the country the child was a citizen of is uncertain.
Following the incident, Turkish Airlines issued a statement conveying sympathy and support to the family of the deceased child. “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones and share their pain,” they said.