Plane carrying 303 Indians grounded in France over ’human trafficking’, 2 detained

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Dec 23, 2023: Two people have been taken into custody in connection with an incident where a Nicaragua-bound plane carrying 303 Indian passengers was grounded in France over suspected "human trafficking", local authorities said on Friday.

 

According to the prosecutor’s office, officials received a tip-off that the flight was carrying people who could be victims of human trafficking. Citing a ‘Le Monde’ newspaper report, news agency PTI reported that national anti-organised crime unit JUNALCO had taken over the investigation.

Here are some of the top developments of the incident:

1. The A340, operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines, "remained grounded on the tarmac at Vatry airport following its landing" on Thursday, according to the prefecture in the northeastern department of Marne. The Vatry airport is located 150 kilometres east of Paris and serves mostly budget airlines.

2. The plane, which took off from Dubai, had been due to refuel and was carrying 303 Indian nationals who had probably been working in the UAE, the ’Le Monde’ report said. Investigators were questioning all the people who were on board and the airport was cordoned off by the police.

Courtesy: India Today