VATRY, France, Dec 25, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - A plane with 303 Indian passengers 
detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking will be free to 
leave Monday, French judicial officials said, though its destination remains 
unclear.

The Nicaragua-bound Airbus A340 and its Indian passengers was held at Vatry 
airport, 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Paris, when it arrived Thursday 
from Dubai for refueling, after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying 
potential victims of human trafficking.

After questioning the passengers for two days, French prosecutors on Sunday 
gave the go-ahead for the plane to leave, and full approval for its departure 
is expected Monday, the local prefecture said in a statement.

Although the statement did not mention a destination, the head of the local 
bar association, Francois Procureur, told a press conference the passengers 
would be flown to India.

A source close to the inquiry told AFP that the Indians were likely workers 
in the United Arab Emirates who had been bound for Nicaragua as a jumping off 
spot for the United States or Canada.

The passengers of the flight, operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines, 
were put up at the airport during the investigation.

Beds, toilets and showers were installed, the local prefecture said, while 
police have prevented press and outsiders from entering the airport.

The passengers included 11 unaccompanied minors, according to Paris 
prosecutors.

Two passengers have been detained since Friday "to verify" whether their role 
"may have been different than the others in this transport, and under what 
conditions and with what objectives".

Twelve of the passengers have requested asylum, a source close to the case 
said.

The Indian embassy in Paris Saturday posted on X that "embassy consular 
staff" were on site to working with French authorities "for the welfare" of 
detained passengers for an "early resolution of the situation".

The 30 crew members were not detained. Some handled the Dubai-Vatry leg and 
others were to take over for the flight to Managua. According to 
Flightradar24, Legend Airlines has just four planes.