11-year-old child dies after losing consciousness on flight en route to New York

An 11-year-old boy has died after he lost consciousness on a flight heading to New York after taking off from Istanbul.

The Turkish Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Budapest, Hungary, where medics were unable to save the child’s life according to the MTI news agency.

The agency reported that the Airport Medical Service responded after flight TK003 made the emergency landing on Sunday, but the child’s life couldn’t be saved.

The flight took off at 8.56am local time in Turkey, heading to JFK airport in New York. It was quickly diverted after the boy became unconscious, officials at Budapest International Airport said, according to the New York Post.

The emergency landing took place at about 10.30am, with an ambulance ready to transport the boy and his family to a hospital.

“Airport Medical Service (AMS), the medical service operating at Ferenc Liszt International Airport, was alerted to the aircraft and continued to resuscitate the child,” an airport spokesperson said, according to the Post. “Despite the rapid and professional intervention, unfortunately, his life could not be saved. The aircraft continued its journey to its original destination.”

The identity of the child and the cause of death remains unclear.

In a statement to The Independent, Turkish Airlines said: “While our Airbus 330 type aircraft with TC-JOA tail code operating TK 3 Istanbul – New York flight on June 11, one of our passengers aged 11 years old became ill. Our cabin crew made the announcement on the PA system for any doctors on board while the captain of the flight immediately diverted to Budapest.

“As a doctor among our passengers attended the situation and performed heart massage, our cockpit crew made an emergency landing in Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport at 10:30 GMT+3. Emergency medical teams boarded the aircraft for further treatment but despite all efforts, passenger couldn’t be saved. Members of her family disembarked the aircraft in Budapest while the aircraft continued its planned route at 13:41 GMT+3 following passenger procedures and aircraft preparations, landing in New York with four-and-a-half-hour delay. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones and share their pain.”