Passengers miss India-Australia flight because of COVID-19

CANBERRA, Australia  - Around half the passengers due to arrive on a flight from India to Australia on Saturday after a two-week travel ban have been grounded because they either have COVID-19 or are considered a close contact of someone who does.

The Australian government-chartered Qantas flight is capable of flying home 150 Australian citizens and permanent residents stranded in India. It will be the first passenger flight between the two countries since Australia imposed a travel ban on April 30. Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said "a number” of passengers booked to fly would not board the flight in New Delhi on Friday because they had tested positive for COVID-19.