Arajet denies allegations linking airline to alleged Haiti child trafficking flights
Key Points(5)
- Dominican Republic–based airline Arajet SA has denied allegations that it was involved in transporting Haitian children to Chile as part of an alleged illegal trafficking scheme currently under investigation by Chilean authorities.
- In a statement, the airline — the Dominican Republic’s flag carrier and largest low-cost airline — said all of its operations comply fully with immigration and aviation regulations in both Chile and the Dominican Republic.
- “We assure you that all our operations have always been and continue to be conducted in compliance with current Chilean legislation, particularly the immigration laws and regulations of Chile and the Dominican Republic,” the company said.
- Arajet also rejected reports suggesting it operated charter flights between Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Santiago, Chile, calling such claims inaccurate.
- “We wish to clarify that Arajet has never operated charter flights between Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and Santiago (Chile), contrary to what some media outlets have mistakenly reported,” the airline added.
Dominican Republic–based airline Arajet SA has denied allegations that it was involved in transporting Haitian children to Chile as part of an alleged illegal trafficking scheme currently under investigation by Chilean authorities.
In a statement, the airline — the Dominican Republic’s flag carrier and largest low-cost airline — said all of its operations comply fully with immigration and aviation regulations in both Chile and the Dominican Republic.
“We assure you that all our operations have always been and continue to be conducted in compliance with current Chilean legislation, particularly the immigration laws and regulations of Chile and the Dominican Republic,” the company said.
Arajet also rejected reports suggesting it operated charter flights between Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Santiago, Chile, calling such claims inaccurate.
“We wish to clarify that Arajet has never operated charter flights between Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and Santiago (Chile), contrary to what some media outlets have mistakenly reported,” the airline added. The carrier is headquartered at Las Américas International Airport near Santo Domingo and operates a fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft serving destinations across the Americas.
The statement comes amid an ongoing investigation in Chile, where migration authorities have raised concerns about possible child trafficking routes involving Haitian minors between January and October 2025.
Earlier this week, Chile’s National Migration Service (SERMIG) filed a complaint with prosecutors in the Central-North Metropolitan region, citing suspected irregular travel patterns involving Haitian children and accompanying adults.
According to the filing, at least 12 adults — both Chilean and foreign nationals — allegedly entered Chile multiple times posing as chaperones for groups of two to 18 Haitian minors. Authorities said these individuals had no documented family ties to the children and did not meet legal requirements under Chile’s immigration law governing the entry of minors.
The complaint further alleges that several entries were recorded under the framework of family reunification programs, though investigators are now examining whether those claims were legitimate.
Chile’s prosecutor’s office has not yet announced charges in the case, and investigations are ongoing.
