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France grounds plane over suspected human trafficking

The Romanian-operated Airbus A340 was en route for Nicaragua from the United Arab Emirates with 303 Indian nationals aboard when it made a refuelling stop at Vatry airport, east of Paris, during which local authorities were told the aircraft was being used for human trafficking.

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A plane carrying 303 Indian passengers has been grounded at an airport in north-eastern France on suspicion of human trafficking, French media report, reports BBC News.

The Airbus A340 was flying from the United Arab Emirates to the Nicaraguan capital, Managua.

It was grounded during a technical stopover at the small Vatry airport in Marne department on Thursday after an "anonymous tip-off", prosecutors say.

Several people are confined in the airport, which police have sealed off.

An investigation has been launched into the conditions and purpose of the trip, local officials said.

They added that some of the passengers were believed to be illegal migrants.

Read more of this report from BBC News.