A charter plane carrying 300 passengers was grounded for over four days as authorities launched a human trafficking probe.
The plane has been parked at the Vatry airport in rural France since Wednesday, December 20. The Associated Press reports 15 people on the flight were quizzed by authorities before being subsequently released.
The charter plane was due to head from the United Arab Emirates to Ncaragua when it was stopped. The Daily Mail says authorities received an anonymous tip-off suggesting people onboard were being trafficked.
Included among the 303 Indian nationals was said to be a 21-month-old baby as well as several unaccompanied children. The Legend Airlines plane originally stopped for refuelling.
French authorities are now said to be looking into the aim of the original flight. However, prosecutors did not reveal whether they believe those on board were ultimately trying to reach the United States.
Reports suggest the Vatry Airport was taken over by police for days after the flight was grounded. Local officials, medics, and volunteers reportedly installed cots in the airport and ensured travellers had access to food.
The AP says the airport then turned into a courtroom on Christmas Eve as judges, lawyers and interpreters filled the terminal to carry out emergency hearings to determine the next steps. Some lawyers reportedly said French officials “overreacted” to the anonymous tipster.
The Indian authorities posted on X to pay tribute to French officials for making sure its nationals were safe. Authorities worked through Christmas Eve and Christmas morning on formalities to allow passengers to leave France, regional prosecutor Annick Browne told The Associated Press.
Foreign nationals can be held in transit zones for up to four days in France. After this period, a judge must give special permission for an extension to eight days.
Legend Airlines lawyer Liliana Bakayoko said some passengers didn’t want to go to India because they had paid for a tourism trip to Nicaragua. The airline did not comment.
A total of 276 of the people on board the plane at Vatry Airport are said to have returned to India on Monday. While the remaining 25 have since applied for asylum.
Nicaragua has been designated by the USA as a nation that fails to meet minimum standards to eliminating human trafficking. It has been used as a migratory springboard for people fleeing poverty or conflict because of relaxed or visa-free entry requirements for some countries.
Sometimes charter flights are used for the journey.
The U.S. government has designated Nicaragua as one of several countries deemed as failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. Nicaragua has also been used as a migratory springboard for people fleeing poverty or conflict because of relaxed or visa-free entry requirements for some countries. Sometimes charter flights are used for the journey.
