Mumbai : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is inquiring into the radioactive leak from a medical consignment carried on Turkish Airlines to New Delhi early this morning.
The staff handling the cargo suspected leak and had it removed from the aircraft and kept in cargo segregation area of the airport. The packaging contained sodium iodide, which is used for treatment of thyroid cancers, and was imported by hospitals in New Delhi.
Sources said the inquiry will ascertain the extent of leakage and whether the consignment was properly handled both in Turkey and on arrival in New Delhi. International Civil Aviation Organisation and International Air Transport Association lay down regulations with regard to carriage and handling of dangerous goods including radioactive material.
In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003. These rules and IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations specify measures, which airlines and shippers need to take while packing and handling of such consignment. DGCA authorisation is required by airlines and ground handlers in India to carry dangerous goods and the civil aviation regulator can also order an inquiry in case of spillage, leakage of fluid or radiation.
DGCA is awaiting report from atomic energy department and will also seek details from Turkish Airlines, which carried the consignment, sources said.
According to DGCA rules, a dangerous goods incident includes an occurrence associated to transport of dangerous goods by air, not necessarily occurring on board an aircraft, which results in injury to a person, damage to property, fire, breakage, spillage, leakage of fluid or radiation or other evidence that the integrity of the packaging has not been maintained and also includes any occurrence relating to the transport of dangerous goods that seriously jeopardises the aircraft or its occupants.
