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The German Interior Ministry on Friday confirmed it sent 81 Afghan nationals back to their home country on board a flight from Leipzig airport.
It was the first such flight conducted by the new German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The government has said it aims to deport more people to Afghanistan after having held talks with the Taliban government, which Berlin does not officially recognize.
The German Interior Ministry confirmed the repatriation flights in a statement.
"This morning, Germany is deporting 81 Afghan nationals to their country of origin as part of a collective repatriation effort. These are Afghan men who are legally required to leave the country and who have a criminal record in the past.
"The Federal Government is thus implementing an important agreement in the coalition agreement. This stipulates that deportations to Afghanistan will also be carried out, starting with criminals and those who pose a threat."
The website Flightradar24 said the Qatar Airways jet took off at 8.35 a.m., having been scheduled to depart at 7 a.m.
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