The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has flagged multiple safety violations by Turkish Airlines following a series of surprise inspections conducted at major Indian airports, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The inspections, carried out between May 29 and June 2 at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru airports, were conducted under international aviation rules to assess compliance with Indian and global safety standards. The checks were conducted in line with Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO), which allows for oversight of foreign airlines operating within national airspace.
Among the most serious lapses, inspectors at Bengaluru airport discovered that the aircraft marshaller 바카라” responsible for guiding aircraft on the ground 바카라” was untrained and lacked the mandatory 바카라˜competency card바카라™ to perform the task.
In another significant breach, arrival checks on one Turkish Airlines flight were handled by a technician instead of a certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME). The authorised maintenance provider, Airworks, was notably absent at the time of inspection.
Further violations were uncovered in the airline바카라™s cargo operations. Turkish Airlines was found transporting dangerous goods, including explosives, without the necessary permissions from the DGCA. Several mandatory documents required for such cargo were either missing or incomplete, raising serious concerns about procedural compliance.
Ground handling operations at Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports also failed to meet required standards. Turkish Airlines did not have a formal service-level agreement (SLA) with its ground handling partner, Globe Ground India. In addition, critical ground equipment such as ladders, trolleys, and power units were being used without proper documentation or accountability.
In response to these findings, the DGCA has directed Turkish Airlines to take immediate corrective measures and ensure full compliance with both ICAO and Indian aviation regulations. The regulator also announced plans for continued oversight through follow-up inspections.
While the aviation issues are separate, the airline faces added scrutiny in India amid rising diplomatic tensions. Turkey's recent expression of support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor has triggered widespread outrage across India, further straining bilateral relations.
