MUMBAI: A plane grounded in France for days over concerns it was part of a human trafficking scheme landed in India on Tuesday, with its passengers avoiding media questions as they quickly exited bustling Mumbai airport.

The Airbus A340 initially had been bound for Nicaragua when it was detained last Thursday at Vatry airport, east of Paris, where it had stopped for refuelling.

It had arrived from the United Arab Emirates and was halted after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking.

Of the original 303 people on the passenger list, 276 were on the plane that arrived in Mumbai before dawn on Tuesday.

Passengers began walking out onto the concourse four hours later but refused to speak to a large crowd of waiting journalists and covered their faces to shield their identities.

It was unclear whether the arrivals were questioned by authorities and India’s government has yet to issue a statement on their return. Among those staying behind in France were two people questioned by police there over suspected people trafficking. A judicial source said they were released after it was established the passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2023