A plane with 303 Indian passengers on
board has been grounded at a northeastern France airport amid suspicions of
human trafficking, according to French media reports. The Airbus A340, en route
from the United Arab Emirates to Managua, Nicaragua, made a technical stopover
at Vatry airport in the Marne department on Thursday following an anonymous
tip-off, as confirmed by prosecutors.
The airport has been sealed off by
police, and an investigation has been initiated to examine the purpose and
circumstances of the journey. Authorities suspect that some passengers may be
illegal migrants, and two individuals have been taken into custody. Initially,
passengers were allowed to remain on the aircraft, but later the airport's
arrival lounge was converted into a waiting area with beds.
The aircraft is owned by the Romanian
charter company Legend Airlines, whose lawyer, Liliana Bakayoko, stated to
French news channel BFMTV that the company is prepared to collaborate with
French authorities. The hope is that the plane can resume its journey in the
next couple of days.
0 Comments