Indian Passenger Plane Takes Off After Being Held in France Over Human Trafficking Concerns

A plane carrying 303 Indians was held last Thursday at Vatry airport, east of Paris, on suspicion of human trafficking. This was a worrisome development.

The Airbus A340 was refuelling when an anonymous tip alerted the crew to possible victims of human trafficking.

French authorities questioned two individuals over suspected people trafficking, but they were released after confirming that the passengers had boarded willingly. On Monday, the plane, with nearly 300 passengers, including 11 unaccompanied minors, successfully took off for Mumbai after receiving clearance from French police.

After two days of extensive passenger questioning, French prosecutors authorized the plane’s departure. A French court deemed further detention of three passengers illegal. Among the original 303, 276 were on the departing flight just before 3:00 pm (1400 GMT).

The passengers, hosted at the airport during the investigation, had makeshift facilities and police-restricted access. The Indian embassy in Paris collaborated with French authorities for the welfare of the detained passengers, emphasizing an early resolution.

Sources suggested that the Indian passengers were likely UAE workers bound for Nicaragua as a transit point to the US or Canada. Legend Airlines, the operator, faced scrutiny with its limited fleet of four planes.

While the crew members were not detained, questions arose about the release’s timing. Some passengers sought asylum in France, raising concerns about potential trafficking victims. Genevieve Colas of Secours Catholique-Caritas expressed surprise at the plane’s departure, highlighting the situation’s complexities.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

See Full Bio