DGCA begins probe into radioactive leak at IGI Airport

Aviation regulator DGCA has started its probe into the leak of radioactive substance, which had come from Turkey, at the cargo complex of IGI Airport in New Delhi on Friday morning.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has constituted a team to carry out the investigation, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.

The probe team is being headed by the Director of Air Safety at the DGCA, it said.

According to the Ministry, the radioactive material leak was observed at the IGI Airport after a consignment which included liquid sodium iodide and sodium molybdate arrived from Istanbul by Turkish Airlines flight TK-716 at 04:32 hours on Friday.

"Leakage was observed at 08:59 hours. Teams of NDRF, BARC and Atomic Mineral department for Exploration & Research are already at the airport for containment and disposal of the radioactive material," the ministry said.

Turkish firm Celebi provides ground handling facilities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The affected area has been cordoned off, the statement said, adding that flight operations at the airport, however, was not affected.