A charter plane that was detained in France over concerns of human trafficking has now arrived in India with 276 passengers on board. Originally en route to Nicaragua, the passengers experienced a four-day ordeal at Vatry Airport, where they were grounded amid a human trafficking investigation.
According to the regional administration, 276 of the initial 303 passengers were bound for Mumbai, while 25 others sought asylum in France. The remaining individuals were transferred to a dedicated zone at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport for asylum-seekers. Notably, the group included a 21-month-old child and several unaccompanied minors.
Two passengers who were initially detained as part of the human trafficking investigation were released after appearing before a judge. The judge assigned them the status of “assisted witnesses,” allowing for further investigation that could lead to potential charges or the dismissal of the case.
The Legend Airlines A340 plane, which had stopped for refueling in Vatry on its way from Fujairah airport in the United Arab Emirates to Managua, Nicaragua, was grounded following an anonymous tip about potential human trafficking victims. Authorities are now working to determine the original flight’s purpose and have initiated a judicial inquiry into activities related to an organized criminal group aiding foreigners in entering or staying illegally in a country.
The ultimate destination of the passengers remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. French authorities have not confirmed whether human trafficking is still suspected in this case, as defined by the UN as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception for the purpose of exploitation and profit.
The Vatry airport, requisitioned by police during the investigation, served as a temporary residence for the passengers, with officials and volunteers providing essential services. Emergency hearings took place at the airport to determine the next steps in this unusual situation.
Some lawyers during these hearings criticized authorities’ handling of the situation, suggesting an overreaction to the anonymous tip. The Indian Embassy expressed gratitude to French officials for facilitating the return of the Indian passengers. Legend Airlines has denied any involvement in potential human trafficking.
Nicaragua, designated by the U.S. government as one of several countries failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, has been a migratory route for those fleeing poverty or conflict, often utilizing charter flights for the journey.
