Two individuals apprehended following the suspension of a flight in France carrying more than 300 Indian passengers.

French authorities took two individuals into custody on Saturday following the grounding of a plane bound for Nicaragua with over 300 Indian passengers on board. The arrest was made over suspicions of “human trafficking” based on an anonymous tip-off. Indian authorities are also present at the scene and conducting their own investigation. The Airbus A340, operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines, had landed in France for a technical stopover after flying from the United Arab Emirates. The Paris prosecutor ordered the grounding after receiving information about potential victims of human trafficking among the passengers. The arrested individuals are currently undergoing questioning by a unit specialized in organized crime.

Liliana Bakayoko, claiming to be a lawyer for Legend Airlines, stated to AFP that the company believes it has not committed any wrongdoing and is fully cooperating with French authorities. She mentioned that the airline would pursue legal action if charges are filed by prosecutors. Consular access has been granted to India for those on board the flight, and Indian officials are on-site to investigate and ensure the well-being of the passengers, as reported by the Indian Embassy in France. Authorities suspect that passengers may have intended to travel to Central America with plans for illegal entry into the United States or Canada. After landing in France, passengers were initially kept on the aircraft but were later allowed off and provided individual beds in the terminal building.

The waiting area at Vatry airport’s reception hall was converted into a space with individual beds to ensure optimal reception conditions for passengers, as stated by the prefect’s office.

Currently, there is no information on when the foreign nationals will be allowed to depart France. Border police have the authority to detain them for up to four days upon landing in France, impeding them from continuing to their planned destination. If deemed necessary, this duration can be extended to eight days, and in extraordinary situations, extended up to 26 days.