India gets Consular Access to flight carrying 300 Indian passengers detained in France

Almost 300 Indian travelers are stuck in a French airport in a human trafficking probe. The flight took off from Dubai and landed at Vatry airport in France for refueling and was supposed to take off for Nicaragua.

Officials from the Indian embassy in France have been provided consular access to passengers on a chartered flight that was halted by French authorities due to allegations of ‘human trafficking.’ Out of the 303 passengers on board, a majority are Indian nationals.

Around 300 Indian travelers who were on their way to Central America have been stuck at a French airport for the third day. This happened after the police received a tip that some of the passengers might be victims of human trafficking. Among the passengers are children and families, including a 21-month-old toddler and several unaccompanied minors.

As part of a special investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group, two passengers have been detained. The Paris prosecutor’s office did not provide details about the alleged trafficking or whether the final destination was the U.S., which has seen an increase in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year.

The Vatry Airport in Champagne country, where the passengers are being held, has been covered with white tarps for privacy. The Legend Airlines charter flight, en route from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua, was grounded on Thursday for refueling, and the passengers have been stuck since then. Flights were canceled or rerouted, and the airport turned into the center of a large trafficking investigation.

The 15 crew members of the flight were questioned and released. The passengers have been kept in the airport, spending two nights on camp beds. Emergency workers, a doctor, and local volunteers are providing meals, medical care, and access to facilities. Indian consular representatives are working with the French government for the welfare of the Indian passengers.

The Legend Airlines lawyer denies any involvement in human trafficking, stating that the company is cooperating with authorities. The crew members, traumatized by the situation, expressed a desire to be with their families for Christmas.

Nicaragua, the intended destination, has been designated by the U.S. as one of the countries failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. The influx of Indian migrants through Mexico has increased significantly in recent years. In the U.S. government’s budget year that ended in September, Indian citizens were arrested over 41,000 times entering the U.S. illegally from Mexico.

-Agencies

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