The use of India's Dornier aircraft in the Maldives for medical evacuations has resumed after a hiatus, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said last night.

Instead of completely fulfilling his pledge to expel the Indian military from the Maldives, President Muizzu decided earlier this year to replace uniformed Indian soldiers based in the country to operate the Dornier aircraft and helicopters with employees of Hindustan Aeronautics, a company under the control of the Indian military. While President Muizzu and the Maldivian government say they are civilians, the Indian government says they are qualified technical personnel.

Despite the replacement of military uniformed personnel who operated the aircraft and helicopters by May, the use of the aircraft for surveillance and airlifting patients did not resume until Friday night.

President Muizzu announced the restart of medical evacuations with the aircraft at the official function held at the youth centre last night to mark the 59th Independence Day.

The Dorner aircraft carried a patient from Haa Dhaal Hanimaadhoo to Male’ last night, the President said. Muizzu thanked the Indian government for it as well.

Indians are stationed in Hanimaadhoo to operate the Dornier aircraft and in Laamu Kadhdhoo and Seenu Gan to operate the helicopters. A total of 76 Indians are based on the islands.

The Indian military helicopters in Kadhdhoo and Addu were regularly flown before medical evacuations resumed with the Dornier aircraft. The government has not commented on it.

The resumption of the Dornier aircraft operations came after the government faced criticism for not using the Dornier or the helicopters for medical emergencies.