Germany-Registered Flight From Dubai, Carrying Indian Passengers, Ordered To Leave Jamaica: MEA
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a press conference on Thursday. (File Photo)
A Germany-registered chartered flight carrying Indian passengers from Dubai was denied entry as tourists in Jamaica’s Kingston by local authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Thursday.
The chartered flight, carrying over 200 Indian passengers, arrived in Kingston from Dubai on May 2 for tourism. Despite having prior hotel bookings, Jamaican authorities deemed them “unsatisfactory” as tourists. According to local media, the passengers departed Kingston on May 7 after both the flight and passengers were instructed to return to their place of origin.
“We understand that a Germany-registered chartered flight with Indians on board landed in Kingston from Dubai on 2 May for tourism purposes. They had prior hotel bookings. The local authorities were not satisfied with them as tourists. The flight and passengers were ordered to return to the place of origin, Dubai. The passengers left Kingston on 7 May,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly press conference.
Earlier, reports had emerged that Jamaican immigration authorities had denied entry to 218 Indian nationals who arrived on a charter flight to Jamaica. The aircraft, a white and blue Airbus A-340 registered in Germany, remains at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport.
According to Radio Jamaican News Online, law enforcement sources revealed discrepancies in the flight’s arrival notification and passenger manifest. Despite being denied entry, passengers were allowed to stay at the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston under police guard.
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