French judge to decide on extending stay of 303 passengers, mostly Indians, of grounded flight

303 passengers, mostly Indians, detained by French authorities over suspected "human trafficking" to appear before judge on December 24 at Vatry airport, Marne.

The 303 passengers, mostly Indians, of a plane detained by French authorities since December 21 over suspected "human trafficking", are set to appear before a judge on December 24 at the airport to decide on their continued detention.

The plane that took off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates carrying 303 passengers and bound for Nicaragua was grounded at the Chalons-Vatry airport in Marne on December 21 over suspected "human trafficking”.

Hearings before a judge of freedoms and detention will begin this Sunday to decide whether or not to keep in the waiting area of the airport the passengers of the flight, BFM TV, a French news broadcast television and radio network, reported.

Francois Procureur, lawyer and president of Chalons-en-Champagne, said: “I don’t know if this has already been done in France.” Vatry airport, in Marne, 150 km east of Paris, is preparing to become a courtroom. The airport mostly serves budget airlines.

The 303 passengers must appear before the judge from 9 am this Sunday until Monday.

French border police can initially hold a foreign national for up to four days if they land in France and are prevented from travelling on to their intended destination, the report said.

French law allows that period to be extended to eight days if a judge approves it, then another eight days in exceptional circumstances, up to a maximum of 26 days.