France has grounded a Nicaragua-bound charter flight carrying more than 300 Indians over suspected human trafficking, news agency AFP reported citing authorities. Following this, a judicial investigation into the conditions and objectives of the trip has been launched.
According to Paris prosecutors, the aircraft was detained after an anonymous tipoff and it was carrying as many as 303 Indian passengers. It reportedly took off from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Meanwhile, French media including BFM TV and France 3 stated that authorities were carrying out an investigation over the suspicion of human trafficking.
The Romanian charter company's flight had taken off from Dubai on Thursday and was making a technical stopover at the small Vatry airport when the police intervened, Marne prefect's office said in an e-mailed statement, as reported by news agency Reuters.
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"The reception hall at Vatry airport was transformed into a waiting area with individual beds to provide passengers with the best possible reception conditions", it said, adding that a judicial investigation had been opened.
Following this, the Indian Embassy in France stated that they were investigating the situation. “French authorities informed us of a plane w/ 303 people, mostly Indian origin, from Dubai to Nicaragua detained on a technical halt at a French airport. Embassy team has reached & obtained consular access. We are investigating the situation, also ensuring wellbeing of passengers,” it said on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, prosecutors stated that the investigation has been taken over by France's national anti-organised crime unit JUNALCO, as reported by AFP. The A340, operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines, “remained grounded on the tarmac at Vatry airport following its landing”, they said.
(With Input From Agencies)