Plane stopped in France suspected of human trafficking
About 300 Indian citizens have been sequestered in a small airport in the Champagne region of France for days as officials investigate whether the charter flight they were on was involved in human trafficking.
Investigation into Suspected Human Trafficking
A group of about 300 Indian citizens, including families with children and unaccompanied minors, have been stranded at a small airport in the Champagne region of France as authorities conduct an investigation into whether their charter flight was involved in human trafficking.
The plane was en route to Nicaragua, with the youngest passenger just 21-months-old. French officials received a tip and decided to ground the plane. Two passengers were detained as part of the investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group.
Prosecutors have not disclosed the specific type of trafficking being investigated or whether the ultimate destination of the plane was the United States, where the number of Indian citizens crossing the Mexico-U.S. border has increased significantly.
The Grounding of the A340 Plane
The unmarked A340 plane, operated by Legend Airlines, has been grounded at Vatry since Thursday. The 15 crew members of the charter flight were questioned and released.
Passengers have been provided camp beds in the airport, which primarily handles small or chartered flights.
Indian consular representatives are present at the airport and working with the French government to ensure the welfare of the Indian citizens and a swift resolution to the situation.
Denials and Increased Indian Migration
Lawyer Liliana Bakayoko, representing Legend Airlines, has denied any knowledge of trafficking associated with the plane or its passengers. The customer who chartered the plane, a non-European company, has previously chartered multiple flights without incident.
It is worth noting that the U.S. government has designated Nicaragua as one of several countries that do not meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking.
According to the Mexican Immigration Agency, the number of Indian migrants through Mexico has significantly increased this year, from fewer than 3,000 in 2022 to over 11,000 from January to November.
