Passengers denied return, demand Nicaragua payment

Donkey flight case: Legend Airlines' legal representative, Liliana Bakayoko, revealed an intriguing aspect of the situation following the grounding of their plane in France amidst allegations of potential human trafficking. According to Bakayoko, some passengers aboard the chartered flight had no intention of returning to India as they had made payments for a tourism excursion to Nicaragua. This revelation surfaced after the chartered plane, primarily carrying Indian passengers, was detained, and subsequently, 276 individuals were repatriated to India, reaching Mumbai on Tuesday.

The airline, Legend Airlines, vehemently denied any involvement in unlawful activities and clarified that several passengers possessed return tickets and hotel reservations, contradicting allegations of wrongdoing.

Of the 303 individuals on board, 25, including two minors, opted to seek asylum in France. French authorities took action against two individuals suspected of aiding the purported illegal immigration, detaining them. These 25 individuals were relocated to a designated area within Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport for procedural assessments.

Among the 276 passengers who returned to India, a significant majority hailed from Punjab, constituting about two-thirds of the group, while 25% originated from Gujarat, with the remaining individuals representing various other states. The complex and multifaceted situation continues to unfold as authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the chartered flight and the aspirations of those on board.

The passenger demographics of the incident involving the grounded flight depicted a diverse range. As per an HT report, approximately 150 passengers fell within the mid-20s age bracket, while around 70 individuals were in their 30s. The remaining passengers represented a spectrum across various age groups, contributing to the diverse composition of those on board.

Regarding the organisation of the controversial flight, the lawyer representing Legend Airlines informed the Indian Express that a non-European entity had arranged the flight. However, specifics about the entity, including whether it was of Indian origin, were not disclosed.

The majority of passengers had recently arrived in Dubai within the past two months, holding either work or tourist visas. From Dubai, they boarded the flight destined for Nicaragua.

Initially, two passengers were detained on suspicion of facilitating the alleged trafficking. However, subsequent legal proceedings led to their release after they appeared before a judge.

The flight, en route to Nicaragua, made a stop at France's Vatry Airport for refueling. Authorities grounded the plane based on an anonymous tip, suspecting potential human trafficking activities. Consequently, the passengers were confined to the airport, which transformed into a temporary courtroom, accommodating judges and legal representatives to deliberate on the case. Eventually, the plane received authorization to depart on Monday.

Regarding the unexpected landing in India rather than the UAE or Nicaragua, Liliana Bakayoko, the legal representative, speculated that Nicaraguan authorities possibly declined entry for the passengers, as did the UAE. She highlighted India as the sole country willing to promptly assist and facilitate the relocation of the affected individuals, providing an alternative and preventing them from enduring prolonged and unsuitable conditions elsewhere.

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