VATRY, France
\nAbout 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday after a dramatic police operation prompted by a tip that those aboard might be victims of human trafficking, authorities said.
\nThose aboard included children and families. The youngest passenger is a toddler of 21 months, and among the children are several unaccompanied minors, according to the local civil protection agency.
\nTwo of the passengers have been detained as part of a special investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group, according the Paris prosecutor\u2019s office. Prosecutors wouldn\u2019t comment on what kind of trafficking was alleged, or whether the ultimate destination was the U.S., which has seen a surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year.
\nFrench authorities hung white tarps across the soaring bay windows of the small Vatry Airport in Champagne country to ensure privacy for the passengers held inside.
\nThe unmarked A340 plane, grounded since Thursday, can be seen parked near the terminal. Other flights were canceled or rerouted as the airport was transformed into the hub of a vast trafficking investigation.
\nThe 15 crew members of the Legend Airlines charter flight \u2014 en route from Fujairah airport in the United Arab Emirates to Managua, Nicaragua \u2014 were questioned and released, according to a lawyer for the Romania-based airline.
\nA surreal holiday weekend scene has been unfolding in the Vatry Airport since Thursday. The flight stopped for refueling, and was grounded by French police based on an anonymous tip that it could be carrying victims of human trafficking, the prosecutor\u2019s office said.
\nThe unusual and sudden probe disrupted air travel as police cordoned off the airport and flights were disrupted, according to the administration for the Marne region. The airfield is used primarily for charter and cargo flights.
\nPolice sequestered the passengers in the airport, where they spent two nights on camp beds while the investigation continues, according to an official with the Marne administration. The official said the passengers initially remained in the plane, surrounded by police on the tarmac, but were then transferred into the main hall of the airport to sleep.
\nEmergency workers, a doctor and local volunteers are on the scene and the passengers are being given regular meals, medical care and access to toilets and showers, said Patrick Jaloux, head of the regional civil protection service. A special section of the terminal has been equipped for families.
\nAs the ordeal drags on, \u2018\u2019we are trying to find ways to help them pass the time\u2019\u2019 and reduce their distress, Jaloux told the Associated Press.
\nIndian consular representatives are stationed at the airport and working with the French government \u2018\u2019for the welfare of the Indians\u2019\u2019 and for an \u2018\u2019early resolution of the situation,\u2019\u2019 the Indian Embassy in France posted Saturday on X.
\nLegend Airlines lawyer Liliana Bakayoko said the company is cooperating with French authorities, denies any role in possible human trafficking and \u2018\u2019has not committed any infraction.\u2019\u2019
\nA \u201cpartner\u201d company that chartered the plane was responsible for verifying the identity documents of each passenger, and communicated their passport information to the airline 48 hours before the flight, Bakayoko told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VATRY, France About 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday after a dramatic police operation prompted by a tip that those aboard might be victims of human trafficking, authorities said. Those aboard included children and families. The youngest passenger is a toddler of 21 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":376585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-376568","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n