Turkish Airlines Faces Scrutiny Over Dangerous Goods and Safety Violations in India
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has uncovered multiple safety and regulatory violations by Turkish Airlines during Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspections conducted from May 29 to June 2, 2025, at airports in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The inspections, carried out under Article 16 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Convention, aimed to ensure compliance with international and national safety regulations. The findings revealed serious lapses, particularly in the handling of dangerous goods, ground operations, and aircraft maintenance, prompting the DGCA to demand immediate corrective action from the airline.
A critical issue identified was Turkish Airlines’ non-compliance with regulations for transporting dangerous goods, specifically explosives. The inspections found that cargo shipments lacked the mandatory DGCA permissions required for carrying explosives to, from, or over India. Furthermore, the Dangerous Goods Declaration did not mention these permissions, posing significant risks to aviation safety due to improper handling and documentation of hazardous materials.
Additional violations included deficiencies in ground handling and maintenance procedures. At Bengaluru, a marshaller handling ground operations was found to lack proper authorisation and a valid competency card for marshalling functions. During the arrival of an aircraft, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was unavailable, and the procedure was performed by a technician instead. M/s Airworks, the authorised engineering service provider for Turkish Airlines, was implicated in this lapse. The inspections also revealed the absence of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA) at Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked proper accountability and monitoring, with Globe Ground India providing ground services without a formal handover from Celebi, the previous service provider.
The DGCA’s findings come at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Türkiye, exacerbated by Türkiye’s vocal support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, a recent Indian military operation. Türkiye’s public statements backing Pakistan’s position were perceived as a direct affront to India’s sovereignty and regional security interests, straining bilateral relations. This diplomatic backdrop has intensified scrutiny of Turkish Airlines’ operations in India, with the DGCA’s actions signalling a firm stance on ensuring compliance from foreign entities amid these geopolitical frictions.
The DGCA has directed Turkish Airlines to address these findings promptly and ensure full compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, as well as DGCA regulations. The authority emphasised its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of all foreign operators within Indian airspace. Follow-up inspections will be conducted to verify continuous adherence to safety protocols.
This incident highlights the critical importance of stringent oversight in aviation, particularly for the handling of dangerous goods, which can pose severe risks if mismanaged. The DGCA’s actions underscore its dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards in Indian airspace, especially in the context of strained diplomatic relations with Türkiye.
– global bihari bureau
