Turkish Airlines Pilots Taken Away by Covid-19
THY pilots were among our people who were affected by the coronavirus epidemic, which was intensely experienced in our country and in the world in 2020. Due to the epidemic, a total of 7 captain pilots from THY alone lost their lives.
12 April 2020
THY's First Loss: Captain Pilot Özden TÜRKÖN
THY's first loss from Covid-19; Özden Türkön became Captain. Mustafa Özden Türkön, a captain pilot from Turkish Airlines in 2014, could not overcome the coronavirus he caught and unfortunately died on 12 April 2020. For 69-year-old Türkön, a donor who defeated the disease was being sought.
Captain Türkön, who contracted Covid-19 disease a while ago and was treated in intensive care, could not fight further and succumbed to the disease. Captain Türkön, who served for many years at THY, continued his active duty at THY as a simulator instructor after his retirement.
Following the death of Mr Türkön, Turkish Airline Pilots Association (TALPA) made the following statement:
"Our esteemed member Retired Captain Pilot Mustafa Özden Türkön has passed away. We wish God's mercy to the deceased and condolences to his grieving family. Our condolences to our community. Best regards."
Captain Pilot Özden TÜRKÖN
Captain Pilot Mehmet Ali KILIÇ
13 April 2020
THY's Second Loss: Captain Pilot Mehmet Ali KILIÇ
Mehmet Ali Kılıç died after two weeks of intensive care treatment. THY captain pilot Mehmet Ali Kılıç died in the hospital where he was being treated for coronavirus. Airline Employees Union (Havasen) made the following statement for Kılıç:
"We are experiencing the pain of losing our THY Captain Pilot in Charge Mehmet Ali Kılıç due to Covid-19. We wish God's mercy to the deceased and condolences to his grieving family and our community."
56-year-old Kılıç underwent a two-week intensive care period. Kılıç, who died on 13 April 2020, underwent heart surgery six months ago, and at the end of March 2020, he became ill after a cargo flight to London. Kılıç, who applied to Büyükçekmece State Hospital, was taken to a private hospital after a positive coronavirus test. Kılıç, who was connected to a respirator and his lungs were about to fail, was looking for a suitable donor for plasma treatment while he was intubated.
15 April 2020
Our Third Pilot Who Lost His Life Serdar GÜNDOĞDU
Serdar Gündoğdu, one of the captain pilots of Turkish Airlines (THY), who was being treated in intensive care due to coronavirus, died. Gündoğdu became the third pilot of Turkish Airlines to die due to coronavirus. Serdar Gündoğdu was receiving Covid-19 treatment in the intensive care unit of Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty. After 11 days in intensive care, donor support was sought for Gündoğdu, whose condition worsened in recent days. A while ago, it was announced that people who could give blood to be used in plasma treatment for THY Captain Pilot Serdar Gündoğdu, who tested positive for coronavirus and received intensive care treatment, who had the disease and recovered. A message was shared to help Gündoğdu, who works in the THY Boeing 777 fleet, and it was said, "There is a need for donor support over the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with coronavirus, has been treated and does not have a chronic disease."
Hava-İş Union President Ali Kemal Tatlıbal made the following statement about Captain Serdar Gündoğdu, who died on 15 April 2020 while in intensive care
"I wish mercy from God Almighty to our Captain Serdar Gündoğdu, who has reached the Mercy of Mercy, and condolences to his family and all our members. May his soul rest in peace and his place be in heaven."
Captain Pilot Serdar GÜNDOĞDU
Retired Captain Pilot Feyzi ALTUNBULAK
25 April 2020
Our Fourth Loss Retired Captain Pilot Feyzi ALTUNBULAK
Retired Captain Pilot Feyzi Altunbulak, who was being treated at Bahçelievler Medical Park Hospital due to coronavirus, died. Like the three captain pilots who passed away before, plasma was being sought for Altunbulak.
Some time ago, it was announced that Captain Pilot Feyzi Atlunbulak, who contracted the corona virus and was being treated in intensive care, was looking for people who could give blood to be used in plasma treatment and who had recovered from the disease. However, before a donor could be found, TALPA shared the news that Captain Altunbulak unfortunately lost his fight for life against Covid-19 as of 25 April 2020. Captain Altunbulak had contributed to the association for many years by serving as Vice President at the establishment of TALPA.
12 October 2020
Our Fifth Loss Captain Pilot Ender Tamer EROL
Turkish Airlines lost another pilot due to Corona virus. Captain Pilot Ender Tamer Erol died in Yalova, where he had been under treatment for a while.
Turkish Airlines 737 fleet Captain Pilot Ender Tamer Erol lost his life due to Covid-19. Erol, who has been treated at Yalova State Hospital for a while and has been intubated in recent days, was 51 years old.
Turkish Airline Pilots Association made the following statement regarding the death of Ender Tamer Erol: "Our aviation community is one of the heroes of the professional group who endeavour at the forefront of the struggle we are waging today with the duties they perform in various ways. In this struggle, our esteemed member Kpt. Plt. Ender Tamer EROL's passing away, we have learnt with regret. We wish God's mercy to our esteemed member and condolences to his grieving family and our community."
Thus, with Captain Ender, the number of THY pilots who succumbed to the coronavirus epidemic reached 5.
Captain Pilot Ender Tamer EROL
Captain Pilot Metin PEKOĞLU
23 October 2020
When we said it was over, our sixth loss was Captain Metin PEKOĞLU
It is learned that captain pilot Metin Pekoğlu, who retired from Turkish Airlines on 20 September 2020, died due to coronavirus. Captain Pekoğlu, who passed away on 23 October 2020, one month after his retirement, said goodbye to this life almost before he could enjoy his retirement.
Pekoğlu, who retired while serving as a captain pilot in the Airbus 330 fleet at THY, was struggling with the new type of Coronavirus (Covid-19). We wish Allah's mercy to Metin Pekoğlu, who lost his life, and our condolences to his family and the THY community.
24 November 2020
Our Last Loss Retired Captain Pilot Erdoğan ŞAN also passed away from coronavirus
Retired Captain Pilot Erdoğan Şan, who served in Turkish Air Force and Turkish Airlines for many years, died from coronavirus on 24 November 2020.
Erdoğan Şan, who served on F-104 aircraft for many years and flew on Airbus A310s after switching to Turkish Airlines, was one of the popular faces of the industry.
Thus, THY was also affected by the coronavirus, which burned our whole country as well as the world in 2020, and lost 7 valuable captain pilots in total.
I wish God's mercy to our deceased THY pilots, may their souls rest in peace.
Retired Captain Pilot Erdoğan ŞAN
