- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Two United States nationals have been detained at the Srinagar airport in Jammu and Kashmir for carrying a satellite phone with them, according to news agency PTI.
The officials said that a satellite phone was recovered from their luggage during routine screening. One of the US citizens has been identified as Jeffrey Scott Prather.
The duo was questioned by airport security and was later handed over to the police for further investigation. A Hindustan Times report, citing the officials, stated that the satellite phone was manufactured by Garmin.
In India, satellite phone usage is restricted without prior permission from the government. Under the Indian Telegraph Act and other associated rules, a person carrying such phones could face detention, arrest and seizure.
The satellite phones are banned in the country because of security concerns, and therefore, travellers must obtain written permission from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The arrest in Jammu and Kashmir raised even more concern due to the region's proximity to enemy Pakistan and the region's history of usage of such phones in the region by Pakistan-based terrorists.
A year earlier, in May, a US-based ophthalmologist was stopped at Puducherry airport over the possession of an Iridium satellite phone. She was stopped at the airport and was not allowed to board a flight to Hyderabad.
The past incidents include reports of the detention of foreign nationals, including a Chinese citizen and a British executive, for carrying satellite phones at airports and hotels across the country.
To curb such types of violations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on January 30, last year, directed airlines operating flights to India to inform their passengers about the ban through in-flight announcements, overseas offices and onboard publications.
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As a result, governments abroad, like the US and UK, have issued travel advisories to warn citizens against carrying satellite phones or similar GPS devices into India. According to the advisories, it could lead to hefty fines to the tune of Rs 2 crore, confiscation of equipment, or arrest.