Over 300 Indians on Nicaragua-bound plane landed in France over trafficking suspicions

NEW DELHI | Updated: 23 December, 2023 5:26 pm IST

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NEW DELHI: French authorities grounded a Nicaragua-bound charter flight carrying 303 Indian passengers at Vatry Airport in eastern France, on Saturday.

The Airbus A340, owned by Legend Airlines, was subjected to an unexpected halt following suspicions of human trafficking. Two individuals were sent to custody with Indian authorities actively investigating the situation.

According to the Paris prosecutor, the decision to make the emergency detour was triggered by an anonymous tip-off stating that some passengers aboard the flight were trafficking victims. The charter flight, arriving from the UAE, had made a technical stopover in France before continuing its journey to Nicaragua.

Two men, associated with the charter company, are currently being questioned by a specialised organised crime unit. However, Legend Airlines has maintained its innocence, expressing willingness to cooperate with French authorities.

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India granted consular access to the passengers and has dispatched officials to ensure their well-being. The Indian Embassy in France is actively participating in the investigation, collaborating closely with French authorities.

Authorities suspect that the passengers intended to travel to Central America to attempt illegal entry into the US or Canada. Following the emergency landing, the passengers spent the night at the airport, without any update on when they will be allowed to resume their journey.

Presently, the reception hall of the Vatry Airport has been transformed into a waiting area equipped with individual beds.

French border police have the authority to detain foreign nationals for up to 26 days under certain circumstances.

Investigations are still underway with both French and Indian authorities working in cohesion to gather more information. According to a representative of Legend Airlines, Liliana Bakayoko has floated the possibility of Legend Airlines facing legal action.