DGCA audit finds violations by Turkish Airlines

India’s aviation authority, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has identified numerous safety and compliance violations by Turkish Airlines during inspections across several significant Indian airports, raising significant concerns over the airline’s adherence to both international and domestic aviation regulations. This audit gains importance amid heightened scrutiny of Turkish entities due to their government’s stance on recent geopolitical issues.

DGCA conducted Safety Oversight and Ramp inspections of Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo operations at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru between May 29 and June 2.

Multiple deficiencies were identified; for instance, at Bengaluru Airport, inspectors found a marshaller—responsible for directing aircraft during taxiing—operating without proper authorization or a valid competency card. Such credentials are essential under Indian aviation policy for safe aircraft movement on the ground.

At Hyderabad and Bengaluru, the ground handling agent, Globe Ground India, was discovered to function without a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Turkish Airlines. Essential ground equipment, such as ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs), were lacking proper tracking and accountability. Furthermore, the absence of formal handover processes from the preceding ground handler, Celebi, exacerbated the situation.

In another finding, DGCA inspectors noted that cargo containing hazardous materials, specifically explosives, was transported without the necessary permissions from the regulatory body. The DGCA has mandated Turkish Airlines to promptly address these violations and ensure full compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards. With the deteriorating relations between the two nations, scrutiny of Turkish firms has intensified.

Additionally, in May, security clearance for the Turkish ground handler Celebi was revoked.

Recently, DGCA approved an extension of IndiGo‘s wet lease agreement with Turkish Airlines for three months to operate two Boeing 777 aircraft on routes from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, contingent upon the airline’s commitment to terminate the lease within this extended timeframe.

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