**Summary:**
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFARAMP) inspections of Turkish Airlines passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru between May 29, 2025, and June 2, 2025. The inspections revealed several areas of non-compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices and DGCA regulations. Key findings included a lack of proper marshaller authorization at Bengaluru, the unavailability of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) during aircraft arrival, discrepancies in dangerous goods handling related to explosives, and the absence of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA). Turkish Airlines has been directed to address these findings and ensure full compliance. The DGCA will conduct follow-up inspections to ensure continuous safety oversight.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for civil aviation.
Turkish Airlines: The foreign airline whose passenger and cargo flights were inspected.
ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices: International aviation standards and recommended practices set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
DGCA regulations: Aviation regulations set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
04 JUN 2025: Date of the report posting.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the posted information.
Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation: The specific article of the Convention under which the DGCA conducted its inspections.
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA: The Indian aviation regulatory authority that conducted the SOFARAMP inspections.
Safety Oversight and Ramp SOFARAMP: Type of inspection conducted by the DGCA.
Delhi: City where Turkish Airlines flights were inspected.
Hyderabad: City where Turkish Airlines flights were inspected.
Chennai: City where Turkish Airlines flights were inspected.
Bengaluru: City where Turkish Airlines flights were inspected.
29 May 2025 to 2 June 2025: Dates during which the SOFARAMP inspections took place.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer AME: Personnel responsible for Aircraft Maintenance.
Ms Airworks: The authorized engineering service provider for Turkish Airlines.
Dangerous Goods: Hazardous materials carried as cargo.
Ground Handling Agreement: Formal contract between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent.
Service Level Agreement SLA: Details the expected level of service.
Ground Handling Agent GHA: Entity providing ground services to Turkish Airlines.
Ground Power Units GPUs: Equipment used to power aircraft on the ground.
Globe Ground India: Ground services provider at Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Celebi: Previous ground services provider at Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Indian airspace: The airspace above India.
Manish Gautam: Name of a person mentioned in the release.
Divyanshu Kumar: Name of a person mentioned in the release.
Release ID: 2133952: Identification number of the press release.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Surveillance of Turkish Airlines Passenger and
Cargo Flights — Findings from Surveillance of
Foreign Aircraft (SOFA/RAMP) Inspection
Turkish Airlines directed to ensure full compliance
with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices
as well as DGCA regulations
Posted On: 04 JUN 2025 8:41PM by PIB Delhi
In accordance with Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO), the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted a Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspections of
Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru from 29 May
2025 to 2 June 2025.
The inspections were carried out to ensure compliance with both international and national safety
regulations.
Key Findings:
1. Marshaller Competency:
• At Bengaluru, the marshaller handling ground operations lacked proper authorization and a
valid competency card for marshalling functions.
2. Aircraft Maintenance:
• During the arrival of the aircraft, Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was unavailable,
and the arrival procedure was carried out by a technician instead. M/s Airworks is the authorized
engineering service provider for Turkish Airlines.
3. Dangerous Goods Handling:
The cargo contained Dangerous Goods for which permission required from DGCA for carriage of
(cid:108)
Explosives to/from over India. This was not found to be attached nor it was mentioned in the
Dangerous Goods Declaration mentioned .
4 Ground Handling Agreement:
No Service Level Agreement (SLA) was in place between Turkish Airlines and its Ground
(cid:108)
Handling Agent (GHA). Equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power
Units (GPUs) lacked proper accountability and monitoring at Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where
Globe Ground India was providing ground services without formal handover from Celebi.
Conclusion:
The DGCA emphasizes its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of all
foreign operators within Indian airspace. Turkish Airlines has been directed to address these findings
promptly and ensure full compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCAregulations.
Further follow-up inspections will be conducted as necessary to ensure continuous safety oversight.
*****
Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar
(Release ID: 2133952)