A chartered aircraft, carrying over 275 passengers, mostly Indians, that was detained in France for four days over suspected 'human trafficking,' has landed in Mumbai. The private Romanian-operated flight, originating in Fujairah, UAE, and headed for Sandino Airport in Nicaragua, was held at Vatry Airport near Paris following anonymous tips suggesting potential human trafficking.
The French authorities, responding to the tips, initiated a probe and detained two passengers on charges of involvement in an illegal immigration racket. Approximately 25 passengers, including two minors, expressed a desire for asylum in France and remained in the country, prompting further investigations by a judicial team from Paris.
On Monday, the detained passengers were released, and the Airbus A-340, operated by Legend Airlines, a three-year-old Romanian company, was cleared for take-off. The flight, which had 303 passengers, including 11 minors, experienced a technical halt at Vatry Airport, where suspicions of an illicit immigration racket arose. The French authorities conducted investigations, questioning the crew and detaining two passengers for nearly two days before their release.
Following the completion of investigations by the French Police and judicial authorities, the flight was permitted to take off from Vatry Airport and landed in Mumbai after 4 a.m. (IST). The incident has led to an international diplomatic spat and highlights the complexities surrounding issues of immigration and human trafficking.
(With Agency Inputs)
