- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Mon, 25 Dec 2023 12:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The charter plane stuck in France with over 303 Indians has been given a nod to leave France on Sunday, where it was grounded for four days over suspicion of human trafficking. A lawyer for the airline said it will take back the Indians on Monday, as per a report by Associated Press. Local authorities were working proactively to facilitate passengers to leave the small Vatry Airport in Champagne country as they had been stuck there since Thursday.
In a special probe by French authorities, two passengers were detained for suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group. Several others requested asylum in France, as per local authorities, quoted by the news agency. The prosecutor said as many as 11 passengers were unaccompanied minors, who were kept in administrative care.
The Legend Airlines A340 plane, which was bound for Managua, Nicaragua from UAE landed in France’s Vatery after local authorities suspected it was carrying victims of trafficking. The airport premises turned into a makeshift court on Sunday to decide whether to keep the Indians sequestered any longer.
The hearing was halted over the procedure used to block Indians at the airport. As per a statement from the Marne administration, the seizure order was lifted.
The French Civil Aviation Authority then set about trying to get the necessary permissions for the plane to take off once again, which should be in place “no later than Monday morning,” according to the prefecture.
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Airlines lawyer Liliana Bakayoko told AP that the plane could head to Mumbai on Monday ‘with as many passengers as possible’. She estimated that over 280 passengers should be able to leave. The exact figure was not confirmed though.
