India Cancels Security Clearance Of Turkish Aviation Firm Celebi Citing National Security Risks
India Cancels Security Clearance Of Turkish Aviation Firm Celebi Citing National Security Risks
India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has withdrawn the security clearance of Turkish ground handling company Celebi Aviation with immediate effect, citing national security concerns.
Celebi had been contracted to manage ground operations at nine key Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Cochin, and Kannur.
Revocation of Security Clearance of Celebi, Turkish company operating ground handling services at Indian Airports.
— Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) May 15, 2025
We have received requests from across India to ban Celebi NAS Airport Services India Ltd, a Turkish company operating ground handling services at Indian airports.… pic.twitter.com/FGpuLuHBbh
In an official notice issued on May 15, BCAS stated,
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon the Director General, BCAS, the security clearance in respect of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of National Security.”
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of the company’s operations, particularly following Operation Sindoor, which involved a border escalation with Pakistan. Intelligence agencies reportedly found Turkish-origin unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) being used during the conflict.
According to government sources, concrete evidence was recovered indicating Pakistan’s use of advanced foreign-supplied technologies, including Turkish-made equipment, in hostile acts against India. This raised alarms about potential vulnerabilities in aviation-linked infrastructure managed by foreign entities.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and BCAS have not elaborated on further steps but confirmed that Celebi’s clearance has been revoked as a precautionary and strategic measure to protect national interests.
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