Plane held in France over human trafficking fear lands in Mumbai | Watch

After remaining grounded for four days in France due to the concern of human trafficking, the charter plane carrying 276 passengers landed in Mumbai on Tuesday. The Airbus A340 aircraft landed in Mumbai shortly after 4 am after taking off from Vatry airport near Paris around 2.30 pm local time, reported PTI.

After landing in Mumbai, most of them avoided media interaction and continued to leave the airport. However, some of the passengers were interrogated by CISF officials. Some of them were allowed to leave after questioning whereas, some are still at the airport for interrogation.

According to French authorities, the plane had 276 passengers on board when it took off for Mumbai, as 25 persons, including two minors, had expressed the wish to apply for asylum and were still on French soil. Two others were held, produced before a judge, and placed on assisted witness status, a French news channel said.

At the time the flight landed in Vatry airport, there were 11 unaccompanied minors among the 303 Indian passengers on board, reported the news agency citing a local official.

The stranded passengers were given access to toilets, showers, and other basic facilities including food and water for consumption in the hall of Vatry airport. The incident came to light after French police intervened on the flight bound for Nicaragua, which had landed at Vatry on Thursday for a technical stopover en route from Dubai. 

Later, a judicial investigation into the conditions and purpose of the trip was also launched in France. A unit specialized in organised crime investigation suspected human trafficking was also involved in the inquiry. Nicaragua has become a popular destination for people who want to seek asylum in the US.