In a dramatic turn of events, a plane destined for Nicaragua carrying suspected victims of human trafficking found itself rerouted to India after being detained in France. While no concrete evidence of trafficking has been found, concerns regarding undocumented immigration were raised, leading French authorities to continue their investigation.

The plane, operated by Legend Airlines, became the center of attention as a makeshift courtroom was set up at the airport in France. Emergency judicial hearings were conducted over a span of two days by a unit specializing in organized crime. Consular officials from the Indian embassy in Paris were also present.

Out of the passengers on the flight, including 25 individuals accompanied by five minors, a total of 25 passengers expressed their intention to seek asylum in India. Meanwhile, two passengers were briefly detained on suspicion of trafficking before being released. These individuals have also reportedly requested asylum.

Francois Procureur, the head of the Chalons-en-Champagne Bar Association, emphasized that foreigners cannot be kept in a waiting area for more than 96 hours. The matter of their fate ultimately lies with the liberty and custody judge. Once clearance was obtained, the plane departed from Vatry Airport.

French authorities confirmed that no concrete evidence of trafficking was found on the flight but expressed their ongoing investigation into potential breaches of immigration laws. A source close to the inquiry suggested that the passengers were likely Indian workers based in the United Arab Emirates who had intended to use Nicaragua as a gateway to the United States or Canada.

Liliana Bakayoko, a lawyer representing Legend Airlines, staunchly denied any involvement in human trafficking or any infractions. Bakayoko stated that another "partner" company was responsible for verifying the identification documents of each passenger.

The 15 crew members of the Legend Airlines flight were also questioned but ultimately released. The hearings conducted at the waiting area were described as "unprecedented" by Procureur, who expressed surprise at the lack of information provided regarding the passengers' rights.

Nicaragua, designated by the United States as a country that has done the least to combat human trafficking, is known as a source and transit route for undocumented individuals seeking to enter the US. While no evidence of human trafficking has been established among the passengers, Genevieve Colas of the French nonprofit Secours Catholique-Caritas expressed concern about the release of the plane, pondering the possibility that the passengers may be victims of trafficking.

Upon landing in Mumbai, Indian authorities will interrogate the returned passengers to gain clarity on several unresolved aspects of the case. The surge in attempted illegal entry into the US by Indians from October 2022 to September has reached nearly 97,000 individuals, representing a fivefold increase from 2019-2020.

The investigation into this tumultuous journey continues as authorities seek to unravel the truth behind the intentions and circumstances of the passengers on the diverted flight.