French police said on December 22 that they had questioned two men suspected of "human trafficking" in connection with a plane carrying more than 300 Indian passengers.
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| France has detained a Legend Airlines plane carrying 300 Indian passengers on suspicion of human trafficking - Illustration photo (Source: Legends Airlines) |
Earlier, an Airbus A340 operated by Legend Airlines (Romania), departing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 21 to Nicaragua, was required to land at Vatry airport in eastern France. Police and military personnel have sealed off the entire airport to facilitate the investigation.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the plane was seized by French authorities after receiving information that passengers on board “may have been victims of human trafficking.” There were minors among the passengers. The two men arrested were also on the flight.
According to the prosecutor's office, the national unit against organized crime (JUNALCO) is leading the investigation and is currently verifying the identities of the 303 passengers and crew, as well as examining the conditions of passenger transport and the purpose of their trip.
A source said the passengers may have been planning to travel to Central America to attempt to illegally enter the United States or Canada.
In a statement on X network, the Indian Embassy in France said it had been informed of the incident and was “investigating the situation and ensuring the safety of passengers”.
Legend Airlines lawyer Liliana Bakayoko said the company had done nothing wrong and was not guilty of any crime, but added that the airline would take legal action if prosecutors brought charges.
Vatry Airport, located 150km east of Paris, serves mostly low-cost airlines. Human trafficking is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in France.
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