Granted consular access to those onboard flight grounded by French authorities: Indian embassy
France after a Nicaragua-bound plane that took off from the UAE carrying 303 Indian passengers was grounded in France over suspected "human trafficking."
«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,» said the embassy on social media platform x.
According to a 'Le Monde' newspaper report, the national anti-organised crime unit JUNALCO has taken over the investigation. Special investigators are questioning all those aboard and two people are in custody pending further examination, the Paris prosecutor's office said in a statement.
The prefecture in the northeastern department of Marne said the A340, operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines, «remained grounded on the tarmac at Vatry airport following its landing» on Thursday.
The Vatry airport, located 150 kilometers east of Paris, serves mostly budget airlines.
The newspaper report says the prefecture said the plane had been due to refuel and was carrying 303 Indian nationals who had probably been working in the UAE. After landing in France, the passengers were first kept on the aircraft, but then let out and given individual beds in the terminal building.
The entire airport was cordoned off by police.
The prosecutor's office said an anonymous tip signalled that the flight was carrying people who could be victims of human trafficking. Passengers were eventually transferred into the main hall of the small Vatry airport, where cots were set up for them to stay overnight on Thursday, the administration for the Marne region told the
