France grounds plane carrying Indians over ‘human trafficking’ suspicion
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New Delhi: A flight carrying 303 Indians from Dubai to Nicaragua has been grounded in France over suspicion of ‘human trafficking’, Indian Express reported citing French authorities.
Special investigators are questioning passengers aboard and have taken into custody two of them for further examination, the Paris prosecutor’s office stated.
Though more details are yet to come, it is reported that French authorities grounded the flight having received tip off on human trafficking.
The flight from United Arab Emirates, operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines, landed at Vatry airport 150 km east of Paris on Thursday afternoon.
The flight was landed for what the Marne prefect’s office said a technical stopover after police intervened.
After grounding, the passengers were taken to the main hall of Vatry airport where they were given individual beds to sleep as the area was cordoned off by police, the report said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in France reportedly had gained ‘consular access to the passengers’.
‘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,’ the Indian embassy said on social media platform X.
A lawyer, identified as representing Legend Airlines, reportedly said that the company denied having any role in human trafficking.