NEW DELHI – India’s aviation regulator issued a stern warning to Turkish Airlines (TK) after discovering serious safety lapses during unannounced inspections at four major airports.
The DGCA conducted comprehensive safety oversight and ramp inspections between May 29 and June 2, 2025, revealing violations that prompted immediate regulatory intervention.
Photo: Turkish Airlines Hub | Istanbul (IST) is Turkish Airlines he… | FlickrTimeline of Events
The DGCA initiated surprise surveillance operations targeting Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru airports.
Aviation ministry officials deployed teams to conduct thorough safety oversight and ramp inspections without prior notification to the airline.
Investigators discovered Turkish Airlines (TK) transported dangerous goods without proper authorisation, specifically carrying explosives without mandatory DGCA permission.
The cargo manifests failed to include required dangerous goods declarations, violating international aviation safety protocols for explosive materials transportation over Indian territory.
Ground operations revealed additional serious breaches at Bengaluru airport (BLR), where marshalling personnel lacked proper authorisation and valid competency cards.
The inspection team found aircraft maintenance engineers absent during arrival procedures, forcing technicians to handle responsibilities beyond their certified scope.
Bangalore Airport; Photo- ACIGround Handling Irregularities
The examination exposed systematic failures in ground service operations. Turkish Airlines (TK) operated without service level agreements with ground handling agents at multiple locations.
Equipment accountability proved inadequate, with ladders, trolleys, and ground power units lacking proper monitoring systems at Hyderabad (HYD) and Bengaluru airports (BLR).
Globe Ground India provided services without formal handover procedures from Celebi, creating operational gaps in service continuity and accountability chains.
Photo- IATARegulatory Response
The aviation authority directed Turkish Airlines (TK) to address all findings immediately and ensure complete compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards. Officials emphasised unwavering commitment to safety oversight for foreign operators within Indian airspace.
The regulator announced plans for follow-up inspections to maintain continuous safety monitoring. Turkish Airlines (TK) operations face enhanced scrutiny until full regulatory compliance verification.
Image Courtesy- Aviation A2ZBroader Diplomatic Context
The inspections occurred amid deteriorating India-Turkey relations following Turkey’s support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and the provision of drones used against Indian interests.
New Delhi previously withdrew security clearance for Turkish ground handler Celebi, forcing operations cessation at 9 Indian airports.
The DGCA separately mandated IndiGo (6E) to terminate its wet lease agreement for two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines (TK) by August 31, 2025, granting a final three-month extension without possibility of renewal.
Photo: Shrey Chopra (Captchops)Operational Impact
Turkish Airlines (TK) and IndiGo (6E) currently operate daily passenger services connecting Delhi-Istanbul and Mumbai-Istanbul routes.
The regulatory actions specifically target Turkish Airlines’ own operations rather than wet-leased aircraft arrangements with Indian carriers.
Aviation ministry officials confirmed the inspection findings represent serious safety concerns requiring immediate corrective action to maintain operational authorisation within Indian airspace.
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The post DGCA Issues Warning to Turkish Airlines for Carrying Explosives appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
