An 83-year-old passenger who died during a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to San Francisco has been identified as Satyanarayana Pasupuleti of India, resolving initial confusion about the whereabouts of his remains.
Pasupuleti was traveling on Turkish Airlines Flight 79 on July 13, 2025, when he experienced a medical emergency while the aircraft was cruising over Greenland. The passenger was traveling with a medical note and accompanied by family members when his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Two doctors aboard the flight, along with crew members, performed life-saving measures, including CPR and defibrillation, after Pasupuleti became unwell. Flight data shows the Airbus A350 aircraft briefly entered a holding pattern over Greenland while medical interventions were attempted. Despite these efforts, Turkish Airlines confirmed that “the passenger’s heart stopped, and he passed away.”
The flight crew initially considered diverting to Keflavik Airport in Iceland, but ultimately decided to continue toward North America after Pasupuleti was pronounced dead. The urgency for an emergency landing decreases after a passenger dies, allowing crews to select airports better equipped to handle such situations.
The aircraft was diverted to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, landing approximately 12 hours after takeoff. Turkish Airlines stated the diversion was necessary for refueling and because the airport had superior medical and logistical capabilities for processing the situation.
After spending about one hour on the ground in Chicago, the flight resumed its journey to San Francisco with the consent of Pasupuleti’s relatives, the flight captain, and the operations control center. Local authorities in both Chicago and San Francisco were notified of the situation and provided necessary approvals for the flight to continue.
The aircraft arrived at San Francisco International Airport approximately five and a half hours behind schedule. Upon landing, law enforcement officials met all passengers, crew members, and Pasupuleti’s traveling relatives. Statements were taken from the crew and family members, and official reports were filed according to standard procedures.
Initial media reports suggested confusion about the location of Pasupuleti’s remains, with some outlets indicating the body had been removed in Chicago and should have fallen under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. Cook County Medical Examiner spokesperson Natalia Derevyanny indicated that the office had no record of receiving any body from the flight, creating uncertainty about the remains’ whereabouts.
The mystery was resolved when authorities confirmed that Pasupuleti’s body had been transported to San Francisco and offloaded in San Mateo County, where the airport is located. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office confirmed receipt of the remains and identified the deceased as a resident of Hyderabad, India.
Turkish Airlines provided a detailed explanation of the incident, stating that with joint decisions from the captain and operations control center, and with consent from the passenger’s accompanying relatives, the flight proceeded to San Francisco without diversion. The airline emphasized that authorities and police in San Francisco were informed in advance, and all necessary procedural preparations were completed.
A passenger aboard the flight who was a certified emergency medical technician reported leading CPR efforts during the medical emergency. The passenger indicated that airline personnel were not as well-versed in such emergencies, prompting him to take charge of the life-saving attempts.
Medical emergencies occur on approximately one in every 600 flights, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affecting about 16 per million passengers. However, only about three out of every 1,000 medical incidents prove fatal, making in-flight deaths relatively rare occurrences.
The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office has not disclosed the specific cause of Pasupuleti’s death. The case falls under the jurisdiction of that office because San Francisco International Airport is located primarily in unincorporated San Mateo County rather than within San Francisco city limits.
Turkish Airlines station manager Ertugrul Gulsen confirmed details of the diversion and stated that remaining passengers continued to their original destination. The airline has not provided additional public commentary regarding the initial confusion about the body’s location or the handling procedures that led to the uncertainty.