Human Trafficking After Grounding, France Lets Plane With Indians Leave

Photo: Legendairlines.ro

NEW DELHI (IANS, MEDIA REPORTS) – After a four-day wait, a plane at the center of a human trafficking investigation departed from a French airport on December 25, destined for India, reports said.

The grounding of the aircraft left approximately 300 Indian passengers, including a 21-month-old child and 11 unaccompanied

The Romania based Legend Airlines A340 plane stopped on December 21 for refueling in Vatry en route from Fujairah airport in the United Arab Emirates for Managua, Nicaragua, and was grounded by police based on an anonymous tip that it could be carrying human trafficking victims.

Two passengers were detained and face possible charges the Paris prosecutor’s office said.

“Prosecutors wouldn’t comment on whether the passengers’ ultimate destination could have been the U.S., which has seen a surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year,” the New York Post reported. The US has designated Nicaragua as one of several countries deemed as failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in France tweeted, “Thank French government and Vatry Airport for quick resolution of the situation, enabling Indian passengers to return home & hospitality. Also for working closely with the embassy team, present throughout at the site to ensure welfare and smooth & safe return. Thank agencies in India, too.”

However, they did not mention human trafficking in the post.