Dubai Flight With Indians Sent Back From Jamaica; Raises 'Donkey Flight' Concerns

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that a chartered flight carrying multiple Indian passengers from Dubai was returned from Jamaica due to concerns over their documentation, on Thursday

It was stated by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal that a chartered flight from Dubai had landed in Jamaica with several Indians onboard. The passengers had prior travel and hotel bookings, but local authorities were not satisfied with their documents, resulting in their return to Dubai on 7th May, as reported by ANI.

Photo Credit: PTI

Dubai Flight With Indians Sent Back

Local reports indicated that a chartered flight carrying "253 Indians and other foreign nationals" had arrived in Jamaica last Thursday. Some of the Indians on the flight claimed they were on a five-day tour, but their itineraries only covered one day.

Issues with their travel documents were discovered by immigration officers at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, leading to their refusal of entry but allowing them to stay temporarily at the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston.

The term "donkey flight", used predominantly by traffickers in Punjab, describes a complex and hazardous journey taken by migrants to reach Western countries, typically the US, a reported by Hindustan Times.

The group was reportedly transiting through Jamaica, with some heading to Nicaragua for a housing development project, while others planned to travel to Canada. The purpose of their travel has yet to be confirmed by the Jamaican government, and police are investigating a potential human smuggling operation.

A possible human smuggling operation is being investigated by the police, according to the report It was not specified by the MEA whether the passengers were attempting to enter the US illegally. Jamaica, as an island nation located in close proximity to the United States, can be used as a transit point for migrants attempting to enter the US unlawfully, as per media reports.

A similar incident occurred last year when a chartered flight originating from Dubai, destined for Nicaragua, was halted at a French airport, resulting in the repatriation of 276 Indian passengers.