DEPA — Deportee Accompanied

DEPA — Deportee Accompanied

DEPA is one of several special handling codes used by airlines to communicate the presence and nature of passengers being deported or removed. The 'A' in DEPA denotes that the deportee will be accompanied by an escort officer for the duration of the flight.

DEPA vs DEPU

DEPA (Deportee Accompanied) — the passenger travels with an escort (immigration officer, security personnel). DEPU (Deportee Unaccompanied) — the passenger travels without an escort, relying on airline staff awareness and destination authority notification.

Operational Implications

A DEPA or DEPU passenger requires: notification to the captain (the pilot-in-command must be informed before a deportee boards), special seating arrangements (typically rear of aircraft, away from exits), coordination with the destination authority, and in some cases, medical clearance (MEDA SSR) if the deportee has been sedated for the journey.

Captain's Authority

Under the Tokyo Convention and national laws, the aircraft commander has the authority to refuse carriage of any passenger — including a deportee — if they believe the passenger poses a risk to safety. Airlines cannot compel captains to carry deportees against their safety assessment.

Airline Policy

Most airlines have specific policies on the carriage of deportees, including limits on the number of deportees per flight, requirement for escort when the deportee has a history of non-compliance, and coordination requirements with the home government.