Kochi To Armenia: Iranian Charter Repatriates Warship Crew And Fallen Sailors Amid Regional Strife

KOCHI / COLOMBO — A high-stakes humanitarian airlift took place late Friday night, as a specially chartered aircraft departed from Kochi, Kerala, carrying the majority of the crew from the IRIS Lavan and the remains of sailors killed in a recent naval confrontation.

The flight, which is destined for Armenia, marks a critical phase in Tehran’s efforts to recover its personnel and fallen service members following the sinking of the IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine earlier this month. From Armenia, the crew and the deceased will be transported back to Iran by road to bypass current airspace restrictions.

1. The Exodus from Kochi

The IRIS Lavan, one of three Iranian warships granted emergency docking permission by India on humanitarian grounds, arrived at Kochi port on March 4.

• Crew Repatriation: Most of the 183-member crew, who had been housed at Indian naval facilities, boarded the charter.
• Skeletal Staff: Only a “limited number” of essential personnel have remained in Kochi to maintain the warship, which remains docked at the Kerala port.
• Diplomatic Support: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended the decision to allow the docking, stating it was “the right thing to do” on humanitarian grounds despite the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

2. The Tragedy of IRIS Dena

The charter flight arrived in Kochi after first stopping in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to collect the remains of sailors killed in the sinking of the IRIS Dena.

• The Incident: The Dena was torpedoed and sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka on March 4, shortly after participating in India’s International Fleet Review.
• The Toll: Sri Lankan authorities recovered the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors. According to reports from Galle National Hospital, 45 bodies were airlifted on this specific charter.
• Survivors: 32 crew members rescued from the Dena remain under the care of the Sri Lankan Navy. Colombo has granted them one-month free visas on humanitarian grounds while repatriation details are finalized.

3. Regional Naval Movements

The logistics of the repatriation highlight the splintered state of the Iranian fleet following the outbreak of the war on February 28.

• IRIS Booshehr: Currently docked in Colombo with its 204-member crew housed at a Sri Lankan naval facility.
• Logistics Route: The decision to fly to Armenia and then travel by road indicates the high risk associated with flying directly into Iranian airspace, which has been subject to frequent missile alerts and U.S. “no-fly” enforcement.

Status of Iranian Warships in South Asia (March 14, 2026)