DGCA audit finds violations by Turkish Airlines

DGCA Audit Discovers Violations by Turkish Airlines

DGCA audit uncovers significant violations by Turkish Airlines

By ET Bureau Last Updated: Jun 04, 2025, 09:41:00 PM IST

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has pinpointed safety violations involving Turkish Airlines. The inspections were performed at several major Indian airports and revealed issues such as unauthorized ground staff and the absence of necessary service agreements. Additionally, hazardous materials were transported without the required permissions. The DGCA has instructed Turkish Airlines to resolve these concerns, amid heightened scrutiny of Turkish firms, following the previous revocation of security clearance for Celebi.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has identified various safety and compliance issues by Turkish Airlines during recent inspections at major Indian airports, raising red flags over the airline’s adherence to both international and national aviation regulations. This audit comes amidst increased scrutiny of Turkish companies following geopolitical tensions involving Turkey’s support for Pakistan in recent conflicts.

The DGCA performed Safety Oversight and Ramp inspections on Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru from May 29 to June 2.

During these inspections at Bengaluru Airport, a marshaller—a ground staff member responsible for directing aircraft during taxiing—was found operating without proper authorization or a valid competency card. Such credentials are essential under Indian aviation rules to ensure safe ground movements of aircraft.

Moreover, at Hyderabad and Bengaluru, the airline’s ground handling partner, Globe Ground India, was discovered to be working without a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Turkish Airlines. Vital ground equipment including ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked appropriate tracking and oversight. The lack of formal transitions from the prior ground handler, Celebi, further complicated the situation.

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In another alarming instance, DGCA inspectors found that cargo containing hazardous materials, specifically explosives, was being transported without the necessary permissions from the regulator. The DGCA has mandated that Turkish Airlines swiftly address these violations to ensure complete compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Given deteriorating relations between the two nations, Turkish companies are increasingly under scrutiny.

In May, security clearance for Turkish ground handler Celebi was also revoked.

Furthermore, the DGCA previously approved a three-month extension for IndiGo‘s wet lease agreement with Turkish Airlines for the operation of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, after the airline pledged to terminate the lease within this extended timeframe.