What is 'Donkey flight' row and how are Indians involved in it
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
'Donkey Flight' Grounded in France
A Romanian airline, whose plane was reportedly used for a 'donkey flight', now finds itself under scrutiny as the aircraft is grounded in France and under investigation for human trafficking.
Donkey Flights' Explained
The term 'donkey flights' refers to a method used by migrants, involving transit through countries with lenient travel document requirements to reach their final destinations.
Majority of Passengers Reportedly Indian
Out of the plane's 303 passengers, officials reportedly said that 299 were Indian. The grounding was initiated following a tip-off suggesting that these passengers might be victims of human trafficking.
'Donkey Flight' Lawyer Responds
Liliana Bakayoko, the lawyer for Romania-based Legend Airlines, while speaking to NDTV said that the charter flight was booked by an unnamed client, who was supposed to be responsible for due diligence of the process.
Lawyer Asserts Passengers Had Return Tickets
The airline's lawyer claims that most passengers aboard the plane had hotel reservations and return tickets from Nicaragua, the intended destination.
Possible Crime Syndicate Connection
Speculations arise that the plane could be linked to a criminal group attempting to smuggle individuals into the United States, particularly given the surge in Indians attempting to enter the US illegally from Nicaragua.
Sequence of Events After Landing in France
After landing in France for refueling, the airline's crew was ordered to leave the airport. The crew, including the flight's Captain, reportedly faced uncertainty regarding their responsibility to passengers.
Hearings Conducted at Airport
Hearings took place at the airport, with judges and attorneys hearing the passenger's side of argument. The lawyer highlighted irregularities in the detention process, emphasising the lack of translators and delayed notification of passengers' rights.
Passengers' Reluctance to Return to India
Some passengers later even refused to go back to India, where the plane returned landed later. The Indian Embassy worked with French authorities to facilitate the process for those willing to return, while others sought for asylum.
Client Responsibility in Passenger Checks
The lawyer asserted that the client chartering the flight from Dubai to Nicaragua was responsible for checking passengers' passports, tickets, and visas. The client remains undisclosed but is identified as a non-European foreign company.
'Dunki'-type Incident
Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Dunki', which had hit theatres recently, revolves around a similar narrative to this incident. The storyline follows a group of friends attempting an unconventional method to relocate to a foreign country. The film has garnered an impressive Rs 265 crore as part of its worldwide box office collection in 5 days.