Flight Accused of Human Trafficking Lands in Mumbai
Legend Airlines’ chartered Airbus A340 which was detained on 21st December at the Châlons Vatry Airport due to suspected human trafficking landed in Mumbai with 276 passengers.
A Legend Airlines’ chartered Airbus (private) was detained at the Châlons Vatry airport, 160 kilometers away from Paris, France due to suspected human trafficking. On 21st December 2023, the flight carrying 303 passengers out of which maximum were Indians departed from Dubai, UAE for Nicaragua, Central America. It halted in the rural city of Vatry, France for refueling but was grounded after the Paris officials received an anonymous tip that the passengers were "likely to be victims of human trafficking" and aroused suspicion. The airport was blocked through ropes and tapes and the entry & exit were restricted by the French police. The French authorities carried out identity checks for all 303 individuals on board. According to the reports, the list of passengers included 11 unaccompanied minors and a 21-month-old child. Most of the passengers were believed to be Indian citizens working in the UAE and were Tamilians, Gujaratis and Punjabis. It was suspected that the Indian passengers planned to reach Central America from where they could attempt to enter the US or Canada illegally. This is because Nicaragua is a country located in Central America and it has witnessed a big rise in the number of people seeking asylum in the United States. One of the most popular methods used by some migrants is known as 'donkey flights' or ‘donkey routes’. The term "donkey route" originates from the Punjabi word "dunki," meaning to move from one place to another. It typically involves illegal border crossing via indirect routes with multiple stops in different countries. For instance, individuals might obtain a tourist visa for the European Union' Schengen Area, allowing free movement across 26 countries, and then illegally enter the UK with the help of "agents." These agents often charge hefty fees for services ranging from fake documentation to smuggling via shipping containers. Each year, thousands of Indians try to enter the United States or Canada or European countries via these methods despite a serious risk to their lives. A record 96,917 Indians were apprehended while unlawfully crossing into the US between October 2022 and September 2023, according to US Customs and Border Protection (UCBP) data. ISH News had released videos of such incidents earlier where families drowned or froze to death while crossing the Canada - USA border illegally.
Surprisingly, the news of the incident came around the release of Shahrukh Khan’s movie Dunki which also tells the story of people going abroad through the ‘donkey route’ and their life there! The passengers of the current flight were initially confined to the aircraft but were later permitted into the terminal building and were stranded there for four days for police questioning. The Indian authorities dispatched an investigation team and expressed their concerns over the potential human trafficking. However, it was found that it was not a case of human trafficking but a possible case of illegal immigration. On 22nd December 2023, two passengers were taken under police custody on suspicion of involvement in an illegal immigration ring. The stranded passengers were provided with makeshift beds, access to toilets and showers, and meals. On 24th December 2023, the airport was turned into a makeshift courtroom and judges, lawyers & interpreters carried out emergency hearings to determine the next steps. The lawyers protested that the situation was not handled properly by the French authorities. The French judges also decided to cancel the hearings of the passengers after citing irregularities in the procedural process. The French authorities worked through Christmas morning on formalities to authorize the plane’s departure. While the 2 suspects were released from police custody they were not allowed to leave and will mostly face some charges under French law for involvement in an organized criminal group helping foreigners enter or stay in a country illegally. As a result, the flight was allowed to depart on 25th December 2023 but it got delayed by several hours because 25 passengers including five minors refused to return to India instead of Nicaragua and decided to remain in France and seek asylum. The aircraft took off from Vatry airport and landed in Mumbai with 276 passengers. Photos show several passengers sitting on plastic chairs at the Mumbai International Airport after the flight landed. Sources said the passengers were questioned by immigration authorities in Mumbai. When and how they will be put on domestic flights bound for their home states is not known. Also It is not clear whether authorities had definitively determined that no crime had been committed before allowing the plane to leave. It is also unclear why the flight went to Mumbai instead of resuming its journey to Nicaragua. Legend Airlines is a Romanian charter airline with a fleet of four planes. The airline has denied any involvement in human trafficking. It said the partner company was responsible for verifying the identity documents of the passengers and communicating their passport information 48 hours prior to the flight.
