A plane carrying 276 Indian passengers took off on Monday (25 December) for Mumbai, the French interior ministry’s local office said, after it was grounded for four days pending investigation into possible human trafficking.
The flight, carried out by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines, had departed from Dubai and landed at the small Vatry airport on Thursday for a technical stopover when police intervened, the Marne prefecture said in a statement.
Bound for Nicaragua, the flight arrived in France with 303 Indian passengers onboard.
The French press reported that from Nicaragua, the passengers were due to take a long route before crossing illegally the US border.
The prefect’s office said on Friday a judicial investigation into the conditions and purpose of the trip had been launched, with a unit specialising in organised crime investigating suspected human trafficking.
Emergency services in Marne, north east France, installed makeshift beds for the stranded passengers, who were given access to toilets and showers and provided meals and hot drinks in the hall of Vatry airport, a spokeswoman for the Marne prefect’s office said in a statement.
Officials from the Indian general consulate were visiting them regularly, she added.
The source close to the Paris prosecutor’s office said the 11 unaccompanied minors had been given “ad-hoc tutors” by French authorities.
The source added that two passengers who were held for questioning were still in police custody on Saturday. The prosecutor’s office had said on Friday that authorities had been tipped off by an anonymous informant.
The flight was chartered by a “trusted” client, the lawyer of the carrier Liliana Bakayoko said, adding that it was a non-European company which the airline did not want to name.
After being interrogated by police, two people investigated for human trafficking have been placed under “assisted witness” status while the investigation continues, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Another 25 people, including five minors, have stayed in France where they wish to seek asylum, authorities said.
The Indian embassy in France thanked the host country for the “quick resolution” of the case and the “hospitality”.
Thank French Gov and Vatry Airport for quick resolution of the situation enabling Indian passengers to return home & hospitality.
Also for working closely with embassy team, present throughout at the site to ensure welfare and smooth & safe return.
Thank agencies in India, too.
— India in France (@IndiaembFrance) December 25, 2023
The Indian press reported that the plane touched down safely in Mumbai.
FLASH: A plane carrying 300 Indians, destined for Nicaragua from Dubai, landed at #MumbaiAirport today around 4 AM.
The flight made a technical stopover in Vatry near #Paris, where French authorities, suspecting human trafficking, grounded the aircraft. Of the 303 passengers,… pic.twitter.com/n0RC7FlLWj
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 26, 2023
(Edited by Georgi Gotev)
Source: euractiv.com
