MUMBAI: After a four-day delay in France due to suspected human trafficking, a charter plane carrying 276 passengers, predominantly Indians, finally landed in Mumbai during the early hours of Tuesday, confirmed an official source. The Airbus A340 touched down in Mumbai shortly after 4 am, having departed from Vatry airport near Paris at approximately 2:30 pm local time.

French authorities revealed that the plane departed for Mumbai with 276 passengers, while 25 individuals, including two minors, expressed a desire to seek asylum and remained on French soil. Two passengers previously accused of orchestrating the suspected trafficking were presented before a judge. They were subsequently released and placed under assisted witness status, as reported by a French news channel.

Upon landing at Vatry airport, 11 unaccompanied minors were among the 303 Indian passengers onboard, according to a local official. The stranded passengers were accommodated with makeshift beds and provided access to facilities such as toilets, showers, meals, and hot drinks in the airport hall, the official disclosed.

The flight, operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines and initially destined for Nicaragua, landed at Vatry on Thursday for a technical stopover en route from Dubai when French authorities intervened. A judicial investigation was launched by French authorities to probe the trip's purpose and conditions, with a specialized unit investigating suspected human trafficking related to organized crime.

Nicaragua has emerged as a favored destination for asylum seekers aiming for the US. Data from the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) revealed a staggering 51.61 percent increase in attempted illegal entries into the US by Indians in the fiscal year 2023, totaling 96,917 individuals. Among them, 41,770 attempted entry through the Mexican land border, according to CBP records. Flights to Nicaragua or other countries with lenient travel document regulations have been dubbed 'dunki' flights.

The ordeal faced by the passengers highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding international travel, especially concerning suspected cases of trafficking, as authorities continue to investigate this concerning incident.

Flight from UAE carrying 303 Indians grounded in France on suspicion of human trafficking