Latest news with #Istanbul-headquartered
Barnama
2 days ago
- General
- Barnama
Foreign Leaders Mourn Bangladesh Military Jet Crash That Claimed At Least 20 Lives
Volunteers rescue an injured girl, after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer Firefighters work to remove the wreckage from a building, after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, July 21 (Bernama) -- Foreign leaders on Monday expressed shock and sorrow over the deadly crash of a Bangladesh military jet that killed at least 20 people, including schoolchildren, and injured more than 170. India, Pakistan and the Maldives were among the nations that extended their condolences to Bangladesh in the aftermath of the tragedy. bootstrap slideshow The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation mourned the deaths and expressed its solidarity with Bangladesh. "We stand in solidarity with the government and the people of Bangladesh during this difficult time and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and all those affected by this heartbreaking incident. We also pray for the swift and full recovery of those who were injured," said the Istanbul-headquartered group of which Bangladesh is a member. The Bangladesh Air Force's Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara area. Among those who lost their lives was the plane's pilot, Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam. The aircraft crashed due to a mechanical fault a few minutes after taking off at 1.06 pm local time from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola as part of a regular training, according to a military statement. "Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Madras HC allows AAI to float tender to replace Çelebi, but with riders
The Madras High Court has allowed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to proceed with a public tender to seek a replacement for Turkish ground and cargo handling firm Çelebi's Indian subsidiary, whose security clearance was cancelled by the central government last month. During a hearing on Monday, AAI informed the Madras HC that though it will have to float a tender to hire a new ground handling and cargo operator, the tender will mention that the outcome of the bidding will be subject to the litigation initiated by Çelebi Airport Services India at the Madras and Delhi High Courts. The AAI also gave an undertaking that the equipment left behind by Çelebi will not be used by the other ground operators. The Chennai airport needs at least three ground handling and cargo management firms, the AAI said. In May, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance of Istanbul-headquartered ground handling firm Çelebi Airport Services India, citing concerns over national security. Çelebi, which employed more than 10,000 people in India, used to provide ground services at nine major airports across the country. The people employed by Çelebi have since been absorbed into the operations of other ground and cargo handling companies operating at these airports. In a statement issued then, Çelebi had 'unequivocally' refuted the 'misleading and factually incorrect allegations' concerning its ownership and operations in India. The company had then said that Çelebi Aviation India was 65 per cent owned by international institutional investors based in Canada, the US, the UK, Singapore, the UAE, and Western Europe. The remaining 35 per cent, the company had then said, was held by the founding Çelebioğlu family in Turkey, with equal shares held by Can Çelebioğlu and Canan Çelebioğlu. It had also emphasised that neither Can nor Canan has any 'political affiliations or associations' of any kind.
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
DGCA directs Turkish Airlines to ensure compliance with safety regulations after inspections reveal lapses
Amid the backlash against Turkey in India over the former's open support for Pakistan, India's aviation safety watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Turkish Airlines to ensure full compliance with international civil aviation standards and practices as well as DGCA regulations. The directions follow inspections of the carrier's passenger and cargo flights at four Indian airports, which revealed some lapses, including improper and incomplete paperwork for carriage of 'dangerous goods'. The past few weeks have seen a growing clamour for a boycott of Turkey and review of Turkish firms' presence in India in the wake of Operation Sindoor. The aviation sector has found itself at the centre of deteriorating relationship between India and Turkey. The Indian government has already revoked the security clearance of Istanbul-headquartered airport ground handling major Celebi, effectively bringing its India operations to a halt overnight. IndiGo will be terminating its damp lease arrangement for two Turkish Airlines aircraft within three months, and Air India plans to gradually stop using the services of Turkish Technic for heavy maintenance of some of its wide-body aircraft. The DGCA conducted safety oversight and ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspections of Turkish Airlines' passenger and cargo flights at Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru from May 29 to June 2. According to the regulator, the inspections were carried out to ensure compliance with both international and national safety regulations. The DGCA will conduct follow-up inspections 'as necessary to ensure continuous safety oversight'. Among other gaps, the inspection found that in one instance, the cargo on one of the Turkish Airlines planes contained 'dangerous goods' for which permission is required from the DGCA—for carriage of explosives to or from or over India. However, the permission was 'not found to be attached nor was it mentioned in the dangerous goods declaration' for the cargo, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in an official release. It did not, however, provide details of the exact nature and volume, and the other specifics of the 'dangerous goods' or 'explosives'. Other lapses observed by the DGCA included the absence of a service level agreement between Turkish Airlines and its ground handling agent at Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports—Globe Ground India—which is providing services to the airline following the suspension of Celebi's operations. 'Equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and ground power units lacked proper accountability and monitoring at Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where Globe Ground India was providing ground services without formal handover from Celebi,' MoCA said. 'At Bengaluru, the marshaller handling ground operations lacked proper authorization and a valid competency card for marshalling functions… During the arrival of the aircraft, aircraft maintenance engineer 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,' MoCA said, listing the other lapses overserved during the DGCA inspections. '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 (International Civil Aviation Organization) Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCA regulations. Further follow-up inspections will be conducted as necessary to ensure continuous safety oversight,' the release said. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Delhi HC reserves verdict on Turkish firm Celebi's plea on airport contract
The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Istanbul-headquartered firm Celebi against the Centre's order to revoke its security clearance. After hearing submissions by the lawyers appearing for both sides, Justice Sachin Datta asked the petitioners namely Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd, as well as the Centre, which is the defendant in the case, to file their written submissions by Monday. On May 15, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) had revoked the security clearance of Celebi, which is a private firm, after the Turkish govt extended diplomatic support to Pakistan in the latter's conflict against India. Turkey also condemned air strikes carried out by India at terror camps located in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Later, Celebi filed a petition in the Delhi HC challenging the BCAS order arguing that "vague" national security concerns were cited without reasoning. "[The order] fails to disclose any specific or substantive reason except for a vague and general reference to 'national security'... (it) provides no reasons or justification," it added. The BCAS, in its order, had said "... the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security." Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, representing Celebi, had contended the BCAS' move was against the principles of natural justice and in violation of the procedure under the Aircraft Security Rules. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on the other hand, defended the action, stating that there was an "unprecedented" threat to aviation security. Notably, the security clearance to the company, part of Turkey's Celebi, was given in November 2022. Celebi employs more than 10,000 people in India and provides ground services at nine major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai. It has been operating in the country for over 15 years. (With inputs from PTI)
India Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
India-Turkey relations
On May 22, the Ministry of External Affairs called out Turkey, saying it expects Ankara to 'strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism'. For good measure, it added that 'relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other's concerns'.Those relations had been on a downhill track for some time but Turkey's overt support to Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack made matters worse. Post-Operation Sindoor, on May 15, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security had revoked the security clearance of Istanbul-headquartered Celebi Aviation Holding's Indian subsidiary which provided ground-handling services at nine key airports, including Delhi and Mumbai, citing 'national security concerns'.
