No Aircraft Hired for Repatriation Since 2020, Says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs has not hired any aircraft for the repatriation of Indian immigrants since 2020. In certain cases, tickets were purchased for commercial flights. The US used military aircraft in 2025 for deporting 388 Indian nationals, with some deportations via Panama.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced in Parliament that no aircraft—whether military or commercial—has been hired for repatriating Indian immigrants since 2020.

Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, addressed queries in the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing that repatriations have been handled through commercial flight tickets in exceptional cases.

In contrast, the US used military aircraft to deport 388 Indian nationals in 2025, including 333 on three separate military flights and 55 via commercial flights through Panama.

(With inputs from agencies.)