During a series of surprise inspections at four major Indian airports—Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore—between May 29 and June 2, 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) discovered multiple significant safety violations by Turkish Airlines.
The goal of these inspections, which were conducted in accordance with Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO), was to make sure Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo operations complied with both Indian and global safety regulations.
At Bangalore airport, one of the biggest mistakes was discovered: the marshaller, who was in charge of directing planes on the ground, was untrained and did not have the “competency card” that was necessary for the position.
The procedural integrity of ground handling operations was called into question by this. Furthermore, a technician performed the aircraft’s arrival checks instead of a certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME), which is against established aviation safety standards and a violation of maintenance protocols. The lapse was made worse by the absence of Airworks, the designated engineering service provider, at the time.
Additionally, Turkish Airlines was found to have transported explosives and other dangerous goods without obtaining the required DGCA permissions, according to the inspections. There was a serious safety risk because the necessary paperwork for the transportation of these dangerous materials was either missing or insufficient.
Additionally, Turkish Airlines did not have a formal service-level agreement (SLA) with Globe Ground India, its ground handling partner, at the airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore. It was discovered that there was no official handover from the previous ground handler, Celebi, and that crucial ground support equipment, including ladders, trolleys, and ground power units, lacked adequate accountability and monitoring.
The DGCA has ordered Turkish Airlines to take prompt corrective action in response to these findings in order to resolve the infractions and guarantee complete adherence to ICAO and DGCA regulations. Plans for additional inspections have also been announced by the regulator in an effort to ensure ongoing oversight and protect passenger safety.
Following Turkey’s outspoken support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Turkish companies operating in India are under increased scrutiny as a result of these regulatory actions. Widespread public and governmental backlash in India has resulted from this political position. Examples include the cancellation of aircraft leasing agreements between Turkish and Indian airlines, the revocation of security clearances for Turkish ground handling companies, and boycotts of Turkish goods and services.
Turkish companies operating in India are now the subject of increased scrutiny due to the ongoing diplomatic tensions, with special attention being paid to aviation safety and regulatory compliance.
