New Delhi/Mumbai : In a dramatic turn of events, an Airbus A340, chartered from Dubai and carrying 276 passengers, predominantly Indians, touched down in Mumbai early this morning after a four-day detention at Vatry airport near Paris. The aircraft was held under suspicion of being involved in a human trafficking operation.
The flight, which took off from Vatry airport at 2.30 pm local time, had a tumultuous journey that began when 11 unaccompanied minors were discovered among the 303 passengers upon landing in France on Friday. The stranded passengers endured a four-day ordeal at Vatry airport, where makeshift arrangements including beds, access to hygiene facilities, and meals were provided.
The situation took a curious turn as the flight’s connection to Nicaragua raised concerns, given the recent surge in individuals seeking asylum in the United States from the Central American nation. US Customs and Border Patrol data revealed a significant uptick in Indians attempting illegal entry, with 96,917 recorded in the fiscal year 2023, marking a staggering 51.61 percent increase from the previous year.
The flight, labeled a charter service from Dubai, had landed at Vatry airport for refueling and was subsequently grounded based on a tip-off suggesting that passengers were “likely to be victims of human trafficking.” Sources from the French news agency AFP revealed that the plane may be linked to a criminal syndicate attempting to smuggle individuals into the United States. The investigation has been handed over to France’s anti-organized crime unit, JUNALCO.
Human trafficking, if proven, carries severe consequences in France, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years. Authorities in France have confirmed that 276 passengers had initially boarded the plane, while 27 individuals, including five minors, remained in France seeking asylum.
As the investigation unfolds, questions surrounding the ‘donkey flights’ method — where migrants transit through third countries with lenient travel document requirements to reach their final destinations — highlight the challenges faced by authorities in combating human trafficking on a global scale.
The incident underscores the need for enhanced vigilance and international cooperation to address the evolving tactics employed by criminal syndicates involved in human trafficking, as nations grapple with the complexities of irregular migration. The fate of the detained passengers and the details surrounding the alleged human trafficking operation will continue to unravel in the coming days.
