Released Charter Jet in France; Many Passengers Set to Return to India

A charter aircraft that had been detained in a French airport for four days amid suspicions of human trafficking has been given clearance to depart. The plane, which was transporting 303 Indian passengers to Nicaragua, had been grounded at the Vatry Airport in Champagne country while authorities conducted a thorough investigation. A legal representative for the airline announced that a significant number of the stranded passengers are expected to return to India on Monday.

Local authorities dedicated their efforts on Christmas Eve to address the formalities necessary for allowing certain passengers to exit the small Vatry Airport. This development followed days of confinement within the airport terminal for all passengers, including a 21-month-old child, since their arrival on Thursday.

In connection with a special French investigation into a suspected human trafficking operation by an organized criminal group, two passengers were detained. Additionally, several others sought asylum in France, as confirmed by local administration sources. Furthermore, prosecutors revealed that among the passengers, 11 were unaccompanied minors who were placed under special administrative care.

The Legend Airlines A340 aircraft had made a stop for refueling in Vatry during its journey from Fujairah Airport in the United Arab Emirates to Managua, Nicaragua. It was grounded following an anonymous tip suggesting the possibility of human trafficking victims on board.

For days, the airport was under police control and, on Sunday, it was transformed into a makeshift courtroom, hosting judges, lawyers, and interpreters to conduct emergency hearings to determine the further confinement of the Indian passengers.

Midway through these hearings, a dispute arose regarding the procedures used to detain the passengers at the airport. Consequently, a decision on the next course of action was anticipated overnight, according to the prosecutor’s statement on Sunday.

The order for the seizure of the airliner was lifted on Sunday morning, enabling the rerouting of passengers in the waiting area, as stated by the Marne administration.

Subsequently, the French Civil Aviation Authority began the process of securing the necessary permissions for the aircraft to resume its flight, with an expected departure “no later than Monday morning,” as stated by the prefecture.

Liliana Bakayoko, the lawyer representing Legend Airlines, expressed hope that the plane would be able to depart for Mumbai, India, on Monday, accommodating as many passengers as possible. Although she estimated around 280 passengers could leave, an exact figure was yet to be confirmed by the prosecutor and regional administration.

Local authorities, along with medical personnel and volunteers, ensured the provision of cots, regular meals, and showers for the passengers stranded at the airport. However, lawyers involved in Sunday’s hearings raised concerns about the overall handling of this unusual situation.

Francois Procureur, the head of the Châlons-en-Champagne Bar Association, expressed surprise at the unfolding events in the waiting area and emphasized the importance of informing people of their rights, which appeared to be lacking in this case. He labeled the mass, hastily convened airport hearings as “unprecedented.”

Under French law, foreigners can be held for up to four days in a transit zone during police investigations. After this period, a special judge must decide whether to extend the detention for an additional eight days.

Prosecutors refrained from commenting on the specific nature of the alleged trafficking or the ultimate destination of the passengers, which has raised questions regarding the possibility of the U.S. being involved, given the recent surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border.

The 15 crew members of the aircraft were questioned and subsequently released on Saturday, according to Bakayoko. She maintained that the airline denied any involvement in potential human trafficking. Bakayoko explained that a “partner” company responsible for chartering the plane had verified the identification documents of each passenger and communicated their passport information to the airline 48 hours prior to the flight.

It is worth noting that Nicaragua has been designated by the U.S. government as one of several countries that do not meet the minimum standards for eradicating human trafficking. Moreover, Nicaragua has served as a transitional point for individuals fleeing poverty or conflict, owing to its relaxed or visa-free entry requirements for certain countries, with charter flights occasionally facilitating such journeys.

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in Indian citizens attempting to enter the United States illegally from Mexico, with 41,770 arrests recorded during the U.S. government’s last fiscal year, marking a substantial increase from the previous year’s figure of 18,308.

Reported by [Name Withheld], London. Contribution to this report by Jeffrey Schaeffer, journalist at Big Big News in Paris.

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• French Authorities Detain Charter Plane in Human Trafficking Probe
• Passengers Stranded in French Airport During Investigation
• Details on Detention of Two Passengers in Human Trafficking Case
• Emergency Hearings and Dispute Over Detention Procedures
• Legend Airlines’ Role in Verifying Passenger Identities
• Significance of Nicaragua in Human Trafficking
• Surge in Indians Attempting to Enter the U.S. Illegally