Turkish Airlines Under DGCA Scrutiny After Safety Violations at Major Indian Airports
TheTrendingPeople.com | June 4, 2025 | New Delhi
In a major development that could impact international aviation operations in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has flagged multiple safety violations by Turkish Airlines following a series of surprise inspections carried out between May 29 and June 2 across four major airports: Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the inspections revealed serious lapses in cargo safety, ground operations, engineering support, and documentation compliance, raising red flags about the airline’s adherence to both International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and Indian civil aviation regulations.
Dangerous Goods Carried Without DGCA Permission
One of the most critical findings was related to unauthorised carriage of dangerous goods, including explosives, without prior approval from the DGCA. The documents for transporting these sensitive items were either missing or incomplete, violating both Indian and international safety protocols.
“The cargo contained Dangerous Goods for which permission from DGCA is mandatory. However, no such documentation was attached, nor was the declaration appropriately filled,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated.
Glaring Ground Handling and Engineering Issues
At Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, the inspection team found that the marshaller, responsible for guiding aircraft during arrival and parking, did not possess a valid competency card or proper authorization.
In another concerning lapse, no Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was present during aircraft arrival — a technician handled the procedure instead. This is in violation of the mandate that only certified engineers carry out such critical tasks. The authorized engineering support provider for Turkish Airlines, Airworks, was not represented adequately during the inspection.
Absence of Legal Agreements and Equipment Mismanagement
At both Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports, the DGCA noted the absence of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA). Additionally, key ground equipment like ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked proper monitoring and accountability.
“Ground services at Hyderabad and Bengaluru were being provided by Globe Ground India without a formal handover from the previous handler, Celebi,” the DGCA noted, flagging operational irregularities.
DGCA Issues Warning and Plans Follow-Up
In light of these findings, the DGCA has warned Turkish Airlines and instructed it to immediately rectify the issues and comply fully with both ICAO recommendations and Indian aviation laws.
“Follow-up inspections will be carried out to ensure compliance,” said the aviation regulator. “The safety of passengers and operational transparency of all foreign operators in Indian airspace remain a top priority.”
The violations come at a time when India is tightening aviation norms amid a rapid surge in passenger traffic and increased scrutiny of international carriers operating within its jurisdiction.