An Airbus A340 carrying 276 passengers, primarily Indians, has landed in Mumbai after being detained in France for four days over suspected human trafficking allegations.
The flight, which departed from Vatry Airport near Paris, faced concerns regarding its connection to Nicaragua, given the surge in individuals seeking asylum in the United States from the Central American nation.
French authorities confirmed that 276 passengers boarded the plane, while 27 individuals, including five minors, remained in France seeking asylum. The initial discovery of 11 unaccompanied minors among the passengers led to the aircraft’s detention in Vatry. During the ordeal, stranded passengers were provided with makeshift beds, access to facilities, and meals.
The flight, a charter service from Dubai, had landed at Vatry airport for refueling before being grounded due to a tip-off suggesting potential human trafficking victims on board.
The investigation into the matter is now under the jurisdiction of France’s anti-organized crime unit, JUNALCO. If proven, human trafficking in France carries severe consequences, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
Despite the legal clearances for the aircraft to fly to Mumbai, over two dozen passengers chose to remain in France and seek asylum, including 20 adults and five minors. Under international law, asylum seekers cannot be sent back to their country of origin.
Heavy fog disrupts flight operations in Lahore
In another development, the schedule of both domestic and foreign flights at Lahore Airport was disrupted due to fog and technical reasons.
Among the affected flights are three Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights and private airline flights from Karachi.
The foggy conditions led to delays in three PIA flights departing from Karachi, impacting the overall flight schedule. Additionally, a private airline flight originating from Abu Dhabi to Lahore experienced delays.
Furthermore, a flight from Jeddah (PA471) operated by a private airline was also delayed, attributed to technical reasons.
The adverse weather conditions, particularly fog, often result in disruptions to flight schedules, affecting both domestic and international flights.
Passengers are advised to stay informed about any updates or changes to flight timings during such conditions.
