France grounds flight carrying 303 Indians over suspected 'human trafficking', consular access granted to those onboard
New Delhi/IBNS: France has grounded an aircraft en route to South America's Nicaragua from Dubai with 300 Indian-origin passengers over suspected “human trafficking”, the Indian Embassy in Paris said on Friday.
The Legend Airlines flight was detained in France following an anonymous tipoff. The plane was due for refuelling in France.
Later in the evening, India said it had been granted consular access to those onboard.
A team from the embassy has reached the passengers, the Indian Embassy in France said in a post on X.
"French authorities informed us of a plane with 303 people, mostly of Indian origin, from Dubai to Nicaragua detained on a technical halt at a French airport. Embassy team has reached and obtained consular access. We are investigating the situation, also ensuring the wel-lbeing of the passengers," the post said.
French authorities informed us of a plane w/ 303 people, mostly Indian origin, from Dubai to Nicaragua detained on a technical halt at a French airport. Embassy team has reached & obtained consular access. We are investigating the situation, also ensuring wellbeing of passengers.
— India in France (@IndiaembFrance) December 22, 2023
According to reports, the aircraft was carrying passengers who are “likely to be victims of human trafficking”.
France's anti-organised crime unit JUNALCO is investigating the case, said reports.
