In a perplexing turn of events, a charter flight en route to Nicaragua, primarily carrying 300 Indian passengers, was detained at Vatry airport in France for four days due to suspected human trafficking concerns. The Airbus A340, operated by Romania-based Legend Airlines, had originated from Dubai and was bound for Managua, Nicaragua, when it was grounded at the small Vatry airport, located 150 km east of Paris. The extended detention has sparked questions about the nature of the suspicions and the circumstances leading to the delay.
The saga unfolded on Thursday when French authorities, acting on an anonymous tip, detained the aircraft, expressing concerns that passengers on board were “likely to be victims of human trafficking.” The national anti-organized crime unit, JUNALCO, assumed control of the investigation, and the A340 remained grounded at Vatry airport, serving mostly budget airlines.
Among the 303 passengers, predominantly of Indian origin, some spoke Hindi while others spoke Tamil, adding a layer of complexity to the situation. The suspicion arose that these Indian passengers might have intended to travel to Central America with plans to make unauthorized attempts to enter either the United States or Canada.
On Sunday, Vatry airport was transformed into a makeshift courtroom where four French judges interrogated the detained passengers as part of an investigation initiated by the Paris prosecutor’s office. Reports from French media indicated that minors were among the passengers, and some had expressed a desire to apply for asylum on French soil.
After thorough investigations, the French judges decided to cancel the hearings on Sunday, citing irregularities in the procedural process. Subsequently, the authorization for the plane to depart was granted, and the flight finally left Vatry airport around 2:30 pm local time, landing in Mumbai shortly after 4 am on Tuesday. The extended grounding had raised concerns among the Indian community about the well-being of the passengers and the circumstances surrounding the suspicions.
Identity Check Of Passengers
India’s embassy in France played an active role, ensuring consular access to its citizens. “The embassy team has reached & obtained consular access. We are investigating the situation, also ensuring the well-being of passengers,” stated the Indian mission on a microblogging site as per a report in Hindustan Times
Speaking on behalf of Legend Airlines, Liliana Bakayoko, the lawyer for the airline, emphasized that the company had committed no offence and was at the disposal of the French authorities. She clarified that a customer, responsible for authenticating the identity documents of every passenger, had arranged the charter of the plane. If charges are filed, the airline expressed its intention to take legal action to defend its reputation.
The French authorities, in line with their legal obligations, conducted identity checks on all passengers and crew, with two men initially taken into custody for questioning. The situation took a new turn on Monday when police custody measures for these individuals were lifted. The investigation focused on organized gang activity related to facilitating illegal entry and stay, as well as participation in a criminal association.
As the Mumbai-bound flight finally touched down in the early hours of Tuesday, the Indian passengers could breathe a sigh of relief after enduring a tumultuous journey marred by suspicions and investigations. The incident has underscored the complexities and challenges associated with international air travel, prompting further scrutiny of the circumstances that led to the grounding of the plane. The legal aftermath of this incident may unfold in the coming days, shedding light on the veracity of the suspicions and the actions taken by both the airline and French authorities.
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