The recent grounding of a chartered flight from the UAE to Nicaragua, operated by Legend Airlines, has stirred controversy over alleged human trafficking. Liliana Bakayoko, the lawyer representing Legend Airlines, revealed that some passengers did not wish to return to India as they had paid for a tourism trip to Nicaragua. The plane, carrying 303 people, mostly Indians, was stopped in France on December 22, and 276 passengers were eventually sent back to India, reaching Mumbai on Tuesday.
Twenty-five passengers, including two minors, sought asylum in France, and two individuals were held by French authorities for allegedly facilitating illegal immigration. The detained passengers were released after appearing before a judge. The remaining 25 seeking asylum were transferred to a special zone in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport for processing.
The age distribution of the passengers varied, with around 150 in their mid-20s, approximately 70 in their 30s, and the rest spread across different age groups. The chartered flight, often referred to as the “donkey flight,” was organized by a non-European company, as per Legend Airlines’ lawyer. The company, however, did not disclose whether it was Indian or not.
The route of the flight, en route to Nicaragua, included a stop in France’s Vatry Airport for refueling. French police grounded the plane based on an anonymous tip suggesting potential human trafficking. The passengers were kept at the airport, which became a makeshift courtroom for legal proceedings. The plane was authorized to leave on Monday.
Notably, Bakayoko stated that neither Nicaragua nor the UAE was likely ready to accept the chartered flight, leaving India as the only willing country to provide assistance promptly. The incident has raised questions about the coordination between nations in handling such situations.
