Summary:
France halts a Romanian plane, owned by Legend Airlines, suspected of human trafficking with 303 Indians onboard.
In a concerning incident, French authorities grounded a Legend Airlines plane, registered in Romania, carrying 303 Indian nationals, including 11 unaccompanied minors, at Vatry airport. The aircraft, en route from the UAE to Nicaragua, made a stopover for supplies. Acting on an anonymous tip, French officials seized the plane on December 21.
Legend Airlines, disassociating itself from ticket sales, emphasized that the chartering company was from outside the European Union. Cabin crew members were questioned and released. The airline, silent on the chartering entity, revealed its previous collaboration history.
Organized human trafficking, under French law, carries severe penalties—up to 20 years in prison and fines of $3.3 million. Minors were handed over to government agencies, and two passengers remain in custody. India’s embassy in France is actively engaged, providing support in coordination with local authorities.