Plane with Indians grounded in France over human trafficking lands in Mumbai
passengers, mainly Indian, and previously grounded in France due to suspected human trafficking, touched down in Mumbai during the early hours of Tuesday.
According to officials, the aircraft completed its journey, departing from Vatry airport near Paris at approximately 2:30 pm local time and arriving in Mumbai shortly after 4 am.
Based on information from French authorities, the aircraft carried 276 passengers when it departed for Mumbai. Twenty-five individuals, including two minors, had indicated their intention to seek asylum and remained on French territory.
Two additional individuals were apprehended and subsequently brought before a judge.
Following their appearance, they were released and granted assisted witness status, according to a report from a French news channel.
When the flight landed in Vatry airport, there were 11 unaccompanied minors among the 303 Indian passengers on board, a local official had said. Makeshift beds were arranged for the stranded passengers, who were given access to toilets and showers and provided meals and hot drinks in the hall of Vatry airport, the official had said.
The flight, which was operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines and bound for Nicaragua, had landed at Vatry on Thursday for a technical stopover en route from Dubai when French police intervened.
French authorities launched a judicial investigation into the conditions and purpose of the trip, with a unit specialising in organised crime investigating suspected human trafficking.
Nicaragua has become a popular destination for those seeking asylum in the US.
In the fiscal year 2023, a total of 96,917 individuals from India made unauthorized attempts to enter the United States, marking a notable 51.61
