A recent incident involving the grounding of an A-340 aircraft, operated by Romania's Legend Airlines, on suspicions of human trafficking near Paris has taken a new turn. The plane, carrying over 300 passengers, predominantly Indians, was detained at Vatry airport, 150 kilometers east of Paris last week. Now, as per reports from news agency PTI, the French authorities have granted permission for the aircraft to resume its journey, and it is expected to land in Mumbai early on Tuesday.
The charter plane, initially bound for Nicaragua in the US, faced scrutiny in France due to suspicions of human trafficking, prompting its grounding. However, following the completion of legal formalities by French authorities, the aircraft has been cleared for departure, marking a significant development in the unfolding story.
While the French authorities have given the green light for the plane's departure, Indian officials are yet to officially confirm the latest developments. Additionally, there remains uncertainty regarding the plane's subsequent destination after reaching Mumbai. It could either proceed to Nicaragua, its original endpoint or divert to Dubai, where it originated.
Reports suggest that the flight made a stop in Vatry for refueling when French Police intervened based on an anonymous tip-off suggesting potential victims of human trafficking on board. Subsequently, four French judges interrogated the detained passengers on Sunday to ascertain the circumstances and purpose of their travel. The investigation is part of the inquiry initiated by the Paris prosecutor's office. Notably, some of the stranded passengers were reported to speak Hindi and Tamil languages.
The charter plane bound for Nicaragua included 11 unaccompanied minors, and two foreign nationals were taken into custody on Friday. Their detention was extended for up to 48 hours on Saturday, according to the France24 channel.
The Indian embassy in France responded swiftly to the situation, assuring the well-being of the passengers. It tweeted, "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. The embassy team has reached & obtained consular access. We are investigating the situation, also ensuring the well-being of passengers."
Indian consulate officials visited the detained passengers, and emergency services in France provided essential facilities such as makeshift beds, restrooms, and shower access, as well as meals and beverages within the premises of Vatry airport's hall.
A lawyer representing Legend Airlines stated that the plane's crew has been released after questioning, with no members placed in custody. According to the lawyer, Liliana Bakayoko, the company will continue to cooperate with investigations and seek damages from its client due to the significant harm suffered.
Furthermore, Bakayoko clarified that a 'partner' firm, responsible for chartering the plane, had verified the identity documents of each passenger and shared passport information with the airline 48 hours before the flight.
