A plane carrying 303 people, mostly Indians traveling to Nicaragua, got stuck in a French airport for four days due to concerns about human trafficking. Eventually, 276 passengers went to Mumbai, 25 asked for asylum, and the rest were taken to a special area in another airport for asylum-seekers.
Two passengers initially held for investigation were released after facing a judge. They’re considered witnesses and could be further investigated or the case might be dropped. The plane was grounded based on a tip suggesting potential human trafficking.
French authorities are investigating the purpose of the flight and are looking into organized illegal activities aiding foreigners. The airport became a temporary court for emergency hearings. Some lawyers protested, questioning the handling of the situation.
The Indian Embassy thanked French officials for helping the passengers return home. French authorities worked on formalities even during Christmas to allow them to leave. In France, people can be held for up to four days for investigations.
Some passengers didn’t want to go to India because they had plans for a tourism trip to Nicaragua. The airline denies involvement in trafficking. Nicaragua’s lenient entry rules attract migrants, and sometimes charter flights are used for this journey.
