Officials told AFP news agency that dozens of passengers have applied for asylum.
New Delhi:
According to a French newspaper, an Airbus A340 bound for Nicaragua carrying 303 passengers, some if not all of them Indian nationals, had been grounded at a Paris airport due to human trafficking concerns. However, he has finally left for Mumbai. Le Monde It was reported late Monday. The departure came after hours of confusion over the status of the plane, amid reports that many of the passengers did not want to return to their home countries.
“The situation is chaotic,” Liliana Bakayoko, legal adviser to Romania’s Legend Airlines, where the plane is registered, told a French television and radio network today. She said: “Some of the passengers were dissatisfied because they wanted to continue their journey to Nicaragua as planned.”
Earlier in the day, she told PTI that the plane would depart from France at 10 am local time (2:30 pm IST) and land late Monday or early Tuesday.she said Le Monde The necessary clearance had been secured.
At the time, only 200 to 250 passengers agreed to return home, she said. She said this would include people who are not in police custody or who have not appealed to the French for asylum.
However, police told Le Monde newspaper shortly afterwards that the plane was not scheduled to depart “before noon.”
At least two passengers are believed to be among those who were not allowed to leave the country and were detained. More than a dozen others are seeking asylum. Their status is unknown at this time.
Le Monde newspaper reported that the two men could be charged with conspiring to allow illegal aliens to enter the country. Some of the passengers reportedly spoke Tamil and Hindi.
Read | Indian fugitive stranded in France over human trafficking concerns, raising questions
The two, who were not allowed to depart, reportedly asked whether their role “could have been different from others on this transport, and under what circumstances and under what circumstances.” He said he was asked to “confirm” the matter.
The flight was a chartered flight from Dubai and landed at an airport about 100 miles from Paris to refuel. After that, the flight was canceled after receiving information that the passengers “may have been victims of human trafficking.”
Read | Anonymous tip ‘Human Trafficking’: Why France landed on the ground
Officials told AFP the plane may be part of a criminal organization trying to smuggle people into the United States via the Central American country.
France’s anti-organized crime force Junarco is currently leading the investigation.
In France, human trafficking can be punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
On Sunday, authorities announced the plane could depart. This was after a local judge questioned everyone on board. Under French law, foreigners can be detained for long periods on arrival.
Bakayoko said at the time, “I’m very relieved. I’ve been waiting for this day.”
Read | Beds and meals provided to Indian passengers on plane that landed in France
Indian nationals on board have been given consular access, and the Indian government said it was working with its French counterpart to resolve the situation. Officials said passengers were provided with temporary beds, food, water and access to toilets and showers at the airport itself.
Read | India says it will cooperate with France after 300 Indians fly by
Legend Airlines said it believes it did nothing wrong and stands ready to cooperate with authorities in their investigation. The company also plans to “seek damages from customers” who chartered the company’s planes.
With input from agency
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