An alarming development has transformed the tragic death of a passenger aboard a Turkish Airlines flight bound for San Francisco into an international mystery, as the disappearance of human remains from a major US airport highlights serious potential gaps in aviation protocols.
The body of a passenger who died aboard Turkish Airlines Flight TK79 has mysteriously disappeared after being offloaded in Chicago, with the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirming they have no record of receiving the remains despite standard protocol requiring documentation.
Medical Emergency Triggers Chicago Diversion
On 13 July, Turkish Airlines Flight TK79, travelling from Istanbul to San Francisco, was diverted to Chicago O'Hare International Airport after a passenger suffered a fatal medical emergency over Greenland.
Despite initial consideration of landing in Iceland, the flight crew opted for Chicago for better medical and logistical support—typical protocol when mid‑flight fatalities occur.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel removed the passenger's body before the flight proceeded to San Francisco with the remaining passengers.
No Record at Medical Examiner's Office
Once on US soil, responsibility for the body fell to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Yet officials have told SFGATE and The Independent they have no record of receiving any remains matching the flight incident.
A spokesperson, Natalia Derevyanny, confirmed to SFGATE that no such case exists in their system. Turkish Airlines stated that the remains were sent on another flight to San Francisco via its station manager, Ertuğrul Gülşen, but declined to provide further elaboration.
Conflicting Accounts Raise Concerns
Aviation blog Aviation A2Z explains that after the passenger's death, the crew opted to land at CHICAGO O'HARE (ORD), a central international hub capable of handling emergency landings with adequate medical support and facilities.' Flight‑tracker data, such as from FlightAware, confirms the plane circled over Greenland before being diverted.
Despite this, Turkish Airlines and Chicago airport authorities have yet to confirm any additional facts, including the passenger's identity, nationality or gender.
How Unusual Is This?
While in‑flight medical emergencies are not uncommon—statistics from the CDC show incidents occur roughly every 600 flights—deaths are rare. Most fatalities involve cardiac events, exacerbated by factors like reduced cabin pressure and long periods of immobility.
What is unprecedented here is not the death itself, but the disappearance of the deceased passenger's body. No explanation has been provided for how remains can disappear between offloading and medical processing.
Regulatory and Logistical Questions
This case raises crucial procedural questions:
- Chain of custody: How are remains tracked when offloaded mid‑flight?
- Medical Examiner Protocols: What Notifications Must Airlines Make to Local Authorities?
- Cross‑border repatriation: How should airlines coordinate the transfer of remains between US gateways and final destinations?
Legal experts note bodies carried mid-flight must be documented and handed over formally. A failure to do so may trigger investigations by aviation authorities or state agencies.
Turkish Airlines' Silence
To date, Turkish Airlines has not responded to further questions beyond confirming the diversion and transfer via Gülşen. There has been no update from Chicago O'Hare officials, and authorities at the Toronto examiner's office remain silent.
What Happens Now?
- Cook County officials may launch an inquiry given the absence of any record.
- A missing persons investigation could be opened by the airline or the state.
- Repatriation efforts to San Francisco may be delayed further pending clarification.
- Compensation and transparency demands may arise from the passenger's family once identity is confirmed.
Whilst in-flight medical emergencies occur roughly every 600 flights according to CDC statistics, deaths remain rare. Most fatalities involve cardiac events, often exacerbated by reduced cabin pressure and prolonged immobility.
As multiple agencies assess their roles in this unprecedented failure, one question remains paramount: how can a body vanish from one of America's busiest airports?
