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Around 25 out of the 303 passengers onboard a chartered flight grounded on Thursday last week have sought asylum in France.
While two of the people on board were destined by the French authorities in connection with human trafficking, some 25 others refused to fly back to India
Who are the passengers who have sought asylum?
According to sources at least four out of 25 are likely from Nepal and the rest are Indians – from Punjab and Gujarat
Why are they seeking asylum?
“These people are being interrogated and efforts are being made to understand their reason for seeking asylum in France,” said the source quoted above.
The Airbus A340, after taking off from Vatry airport
Technical stop that foiled trafficking plans
As reported previously, the Airbus A340 was being operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines. This flight was bound for Nicaragua and on Thursday last week had landed at Vatry for a technical stopover en route from Dubai. On a tip off, the French police had intervened on suspicion of human trafficking. On Sunday, after several rounds of questioning by various agencies, the French prosecutors gave a go-ahead for the plane to leave with the passengers.
According to various reports in the public domain, the French authorities had launched a judicial investigation with focus on the purpose of the trip. A special unit which specialises in organised crime was also part of the questioning suspecting human trafficking.
Financial Express Online has reported earlier that Nicaragua in Central America has become a preferred destination for those seeking to reach the US.
What Legend Airlines said
Legend Airlines revealed that the two initially detained individuals were released on Monday after a court appearance. They have been termed “assisted witnesses” under French law, granting additional time for investigation, potentially leading to charges or case dismissal. The detained aircraft in France was chartered by a client tasked with confirming passenger details.
This insight was provided by Legend Airlines, which operates merely four flights, shedding light on the situation without resorting to dramatic language.
Nicaragua, the new entry point for US
While the flight’s specifics are unknown, it’s widely assumed passengers aimed to enter the US illegally by flying to Nicaragua in Central America.
Flights to Nicaragua or countries with easy travel
Manuel Orozco, director of migration issues at Washington’s Inter-American Dialogue, notes the recent emergence of charter flights aiding migrants in reaching dream destinations.
This phenomenon is relatively new, marking a shift in migration dynamics, especially considering the challenges and implications associated with such journeys.
Nicaragua has gained popularity as a destination for those seeking asylum in the US. In the fiscal year 2023, a total of 96,917 Indians attempted illegal entry into the US, indicating a 51.61 percent increase from the previous year, based on data from the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
Among these, 41,770 Indians tried to enter through the Mexican land border, according to CBP data. Flights to Nicaragua or other countries with lenient travel document procedures are colloquially referred to as ‘donkey’ or ‘dunki’ flights.
Story so far…
A plane carrying Indians landed in Mumbai, and French authorities reported 276 passengers on board during takeoff. About 25 individuals, including two minors, sought asylum and remained in France.
Two passengers faced legal proceedings but were later released and put under assisted witness status, as reported by a French news channel.
Upon landing at Vatry airport, 11 unaccompanied minors were among the 303 Indian passengers on the Airbus A340 flight, according to a local official.
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