France Grounds Plane With 303 Indians Over Suspected ‘Human Trafficking’

Paris: A flight carrying 303 Indian passengers was grounded by France on Friday over suspected “human trafficking”, AFP reported quoting authorities.

The A340 plane, operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines, had taken off from Dubai and was headed to Nicaragua.

The aircraft was detained at Vatry airport, in the eastern Marne region, following an anonymous tipoff, Paris prosecutors said.

France’s national anti-organised crime unit JUNALCO has taken over the investigation and looking into suspicions of human trafficking. Two persons were arrested for questioning, Paris public prosecution office said.

A judicial investigation into the conditions and purposes of the trip has been launched, Reuters reported.

AFP cited sources saying that the Indian passengers might have planned to travel to Central America to attempt illegal entry into the United States or Canada.

There was no immediate response from the Indian foreign ministry or the Romanian airline.

“The reception hall at Vatry airport was transformed into a waiting area with individual beds to provide passengers with the best possible reception conditions,” an airport official said.