New Delhi: India has revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling company Celebi Aviation, citing national security concerns, officials said Thursday, in a move that comes amid rising tensions between New Delhi and Ankara.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s aviation security watchdog, issued an order on Thursday stating that the security clearance granted to Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. has been withdrawn with immediate effect. The company had earlier received security clearance on November 21, 2022, under the Ground Handling Agency category.
The decision follows a diplomatic rift between the two nations after Turkiye publicly backed Pakistan and condemned India’s recent military operation — codenamed Operation Sindoor — targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were carried out in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that left several Indian soldiers dead.
“The security clearance accorded to M/s Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. stands revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security,” the BCAS order said.
Celebi Aviation, which is headquartered in Turkiye, provides passenger and cargo ground handling services at nine major Indian airports including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Ahmedabad and Kannur, according to the company’s website.
The revocation is likely to impact ground operations at these airports, though Indian aviation officials said contingency plans are being drawn up to ensure minimal disruption to services.
There was no immediate response from Celebi or the Turkish embassy in New Delhi.
