Passengers on a flight that faced a
four-day grounding in France over suspicions of human trafficking were found to
possess valid documents and visas, according to a lawyer representing
Romania-based charter carrier Legend Airlines. The airline's Airbus A340, en
route to Nicaragua from the UAE, was detained in rural Vatry, Champagne, for
refueling. The apprehension stemmed from an anonymous tip suggesting potential
human trafficking victims among the predominantly Indian passengers. French
authorities were investigating the possibility of a "donkey flight,"
a term denoting migrants attempting entry into countries like the US via
stopovers in regions with lax entry requirements.
When the Donkey Flight Return?
Legend Airlines' lawyer, Liliana
Bakayoko, disclosed that a non-European company chartered the aircraft,
emphasizing the charter's confidentiality. The flight, organized by the client,
involved the selection of departure and arrival points, along with the hiring
of the crew. An anonymous tip, allegedly from a "very high
authority," raised concerns about human trafficking.
Bakayoko statement about the flight
Bakayoko stated, "The flight was
chartered by a company whose name I won't disclose at this stage because Legend
Airlines wants to protect its clients." She highlighted that passengers,
including families and children, held valid ID documents, tickets, visas, and
some possessed return tickets and hotel reservations. There is currently no
evidence indicating passengers' intentions beyond Nicaragua.
Notably, Indian nationals, among the
passengers, are required to obtain a visa before traveling to Nicaragua. Out of
the 303 passengers from the UAE, 25 sought asylum in France, including minors.
While two passengers were briefly detained in connection with the human
trafficking probe, they were released after appearing before a judge, as
confirmed by the Paris prosecutor's office.
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