Aviation regulator DGCA has started its probe into the leak of <g data-gr-id="28">radioactive</g> substance, which had come from Turkey, at the cargo complex of IGI Airport here this 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 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (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.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines, in a statement, said that necessary information on the incident has been shared with the relevant authorities by Turkish Airlines.
"The cargo package containing medical material and carried by Turkish Airlines' TK716 Istanbul-Delhi flight has been examined by the official authorities in Delhi on suspicion of radioactive leak due to the wetness seen on the mentioned package," the airline said in the statement issued after six-and-a-half hours of the incident.
Upon having been informed of the mentioned situation, Turkish Airlines' relevant cargo and technical teams have effectuated the necessary controls and radiological surveys <g data-gr-id="36">on-board</g> the aircraft landed back to <g data-gr-id="31">Istanbul</g> but no evidence has been detected, the airline said.
The necessary information on the incident has been made to the relevant official authorities by Turkish Airlines, it added.