Mumbai (PTI): A charter plane carrying 276 passengers, mostly Indians, grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking, landed in Mumbai in the wee hours on Tuesday, an official said.

The aircraft, an Airbus A340, landed in Mumbai shortly after 4 am, the official said. It had taken off from Vatry airport near Paris around 2.30 pm local time.

According to French authorities, the plane had 276 passengers on board when it took off for Mumbai, as 25 persons, including two minors, had expressed the wish to apply for asylum and were still on French soil. Two others were held, produced before a judge and placed on assisted witness status, a French news channel said.

When the flight landed in Vatry airport, there were 11 unaccompanied minors among the 303 Indian passengers on board, a local official had said.

Makeshift beds were arranged for the stranded passengers, who were given access to toilets and showers and provided meals and hot drinks in the hall of Vatry airport, the official had said.

The flight, which was operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines and bound for Nicaragua, had landed at Vatry on Thursday for a technical stopover en route from Dubai when French police intervened.

French authorities launched a judicial investigation into the conditions and purpose of the trip, with a unit specialising in organised crime investigating suspected human trafficking.

Nicaragua has become a popular destination for those seeking asylum in the US. As many as 96,917 Indians attempted to enter the US illegally in the financial year 2023, signalling a 51.61 percent jump from the previous year, according to data made available by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

At least 41,770 of those Indians attempted to enter the US via the Mexican land border, CBP data shows. Flights to Nicaragua or third countries where obtaining travel documents is easy have come to be known as 'dunki' flights.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Ahmedabad: A viral video showing Union Home Minister Amit Shah scolding his son Jay Shah during an aarti at Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Temple has caught the attention of social media users. The incident took place on the second day of Shah’s three-day visit to Gujarat.

In the video, Amit Shah, while performing the aarti, brings the flame near Jay Shah’s son. Concerned for his baby’s safety, Jay attempts to shield him from the flames. Amit Shah, noticing his concern, jokingly remarked, "Kassu nai thay, tare kai novo navay no chokro che" (Nothing will happen; do you have a new and unique son?). His playful comment left VIPs and attendees chuckling, while Jay Shah appeared momentarily startled.

Amit Shah, along with his family, visited the Jagannath Temple as part of his Uttarayan celebrations in Ahmedabad. During the visit, they performed rituals including cow worship. In another lighthearted moment, Amit Shah repeated his comment about Jay Shah’s son, adding to the humorous atmosphere.

Amit Shah's Gujarat tour also included the inauguration of several developmental projects, such as the Ghatlodia Police Station, a modern police housing project, a state-of-the-art auditorium in Kalol, and a Railway Underbridge in Kalol.