Maldives Resumes Medical Evacuations Using India-Gifted Dornier Aircraft, Helicopters; President Muizzu Expresses Gratitude

Following an agreement between the two countries regarding the repatriation of Indian military personnel in charge of the three aviation platforms in Male, the Maldives has resumed using a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters that were gifted by India for medical evacuations, according to media reports on Saturday. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, widely known for his pro-China stance thanked India for enabling the resumption of medical evacuation services employing Indian civilian aviation workers.

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“A patient was transported to Male’ on the India platform for the first time since military personnel were replaced by civilians. I thank the Indian government for this,” Muizzu was quoted as saying by Sun.mv news portal.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has informed the local media that the provision of medical evacuation by Dornier planes and helicopters has resumed, this time with the civilian crew sent from India. 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the MDNF informed that the two medical emergencies were carried out on Friday night. The Dornier aircraft and the helicopters were earlier operated by Indian military personnel and were stopped soon after President Muizzu took oath as Maldives President last November.

Earlier in February this year, both New Delhi and Male had reached an agreement wherein all Indian military troops were to return in groups by May 10 and India fulfilled this promise. The military personnel were reportedly replaced by civilians as India did not take back the Dornier aircraft and the helicopters it had gifted to the Maldives some years ago.

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Indians are stationed at Hanimaadhoo to operate the Dornier planes and in Laamu Kadhdhoo and Seenu Gan to operate the helicopters, as reported by news portal Adhadhu.com. 

After winning the presidential polls, Muizzu said that he would keep his election promise to remove Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. However, he also clarified that his call for India to remove its military personnel would not mean "that I'm going to allow China or any other country to bring their military troops here."