French authorities have grounded a passenger plane carrying 303 Indian citizens, including 11 unaccompanied minors, at Vatry airport, suspecting it of involvement in human trafficking, as reported by the Paris Prosecutor’s Office to CNN on Saturday.
The aircraft, owned by Legend Airlines, a Romanian-based company, was en route from the United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua, making a stop at Vatry airport, approximately 150 kilometers east of Paris, for refueling, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
On December 21, French authorities impounded the plane following an anonymous tip they received. The charter was arranged by a non-European Union registered company, and Legend Airlines did not handle the ticket sales for this particular flight, clarified the airline’s lawyer, Liliana Bakayoko, in a statement to CNN affiliate BFMTV on Saturday.
Bakayoko mentioned that the cabin crew underwent questioning and were subsequently released. She added that the chartering company, while remaining unnamed by Legend Airlines, had been a consistent client, chartering multiple flights in the past.
Legend Airlines has opted not to disclose the chartering company’s identity, citing ongoing investigations. a passenger plane carrying
In accordance with French law, organized human trafficking carries penalties of imprisonment for up to 20 years and fines reaching $3.3 million (3 million euros).
The minors aboard the grounded plane have been relocated to relevant government agencies to ensure proper care and protection.
French authorities have interviewed all adult passengers from the flight. Notably, two passengers are currently undergoing police questioning in custody to determine if their involvement in the transportation differs from that of others. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances and purposes surrounding their roles in this incident, as stated by the Paris Prosecutor’s Office.