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Comment by 9nGQluzmnq3M | Hacker News Reader

Germany would be happy to have him board a flight to Germany, where he would be arrested on arrival, the problem is that there are (now) no flights at all. India is unwilling to let a convicted criminal in the country, but he has committed no crimes on Indian soil, so they're not arresting him. In a scenario like this there's very little the German embassy can do, it's not like they have their own private jail ready.

At this point, the guy is probably best off just waiting it out in the transit area, and getting a flight out to Turkey or wherever when they resume.

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Germany had a rescue flight from Delhi to Frankfurt at least on 27th March (and likely far more)

Only explanation is he didn't want to take the flight.

> Chris Linford, 56, a cafe owner from Derbyshire, said he and his family were among a group of about 40 British tourists on a German flight from Delhi to Frankfurt on Friday [27th March]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/germany-charte...

There were plenty of flights to Germany at the beginning of the lockdown. They were called rescue flights and I’m sure the German government would have loved to have him on board that flight (so that they can arrest him in Germany).

It’s sounded like he wanted to go to another country but couldn’t due to the lack of international flights.

It's a bit confusing, with the article saying international flights are suspended, but Delhi Departure and Bangkok arrival show flights between the two cities: https://www.bangkokairportonline.com/flight-status-arrivals-.... From there, a flight to Frankfurt leaves at 2300.

The EU also pooled their repatriation flights. He could have gotten on any French, Italian, Spanish etc. transport, space permitting.

There's obviously something wrong with this guy. And if there wasn't before, six weeks at an airport made it happen. He should just go home and for it to be credited as time served.

Is it possible that those flights are cargo-only?

Even if the flights are available to passengers, Thailand does not allow anyone enter the country except for very specific reasons - not even citizens and permanent residents are allowed in

As such an airline won't take the passenger

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requ...

> The EU also pooled their repatriation flights. He could have gotten on any French, Italian, Spanish etc. transport, space permitting.

Maybe...but the article suggests that his destination was Turkey. And if he is really wanted in Germany I don't he'd want to board a flight to France, Spain or anywhere else in the EU.

> but he has committed no crimes on Indian soil, so they're not arresting

So India and Germany have no extradition agreement? If so, probably the reason why this guy is in India.

The article says he was traveling between Hanoi and Istanbul. Unless he perfectly timed the cancelation of flights between India and Turkey, he was not intending to stay in India.

At what point does living in a airport become a crime?

When poverty or existence becomes a crime.

It's not, and that's why the Indian authorities are letting him stay there.

If the airport were to "close to the public" for any reason he could be considered as a Trespasser.

Heathrow (for example)[0] has a problem with homeless people sleeping there, if they're warned by security staff and found again then they're considered trespassers, and trespass is illegal.

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdAVn5JWkhs

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