NEW DELHI, Dec 25: A charter plane, previously grounded in France for a human trafficking investigation, took off for India on Monday, concluding an extraordinary holiday ordeal for approximately 300 Indians heading to Central America. The group had been stranded inside a rural French airport for four days.

Witnessed by Associated Press reporters at Vatry Airport in Champagne country, the unmarked Legend Airlines A340 departed after the crew and around 200 other individuals boarded the aircraft. Notably, the passengers included a 21-month-old child and 11 unaccompanied minors placed under special administrative care, with some seeking asylum in France.

Two passengers were detained and faced a judge on Monday for potential charges. While prosecutors refrained from commenting on the passengers' intended destination, questions lingered about the possibility of the United States, given the surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-US border this year.

The airport, initially requisitioned by the police for an extended period, transformed into a makeshift courtroom on Sunday. Judges, lawyers, and interpreters filled the terminal for emergency hearings to determine the next steps in this complex situation.

Lawyers expressed discontent during Sunday's hearings over authorities' handling of the unusual situation and the rights of the passengers involved. The plane, granted permission to depart France on Sunday, was scheduled to take off on Monday, as confirmed by an official from the Marne regional administration. French authorities dedicated efforts on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning to complete formalities, allowing passengers to exit the Vatry airfield in Champagne country, as disclosed by regional prosecutor Annick Browne to The Associated Press.

Liliana Bakayoko, the lawyer representing Legend Airlines, stated that the airline had received approval from French authorities to transport 301 out of the 303 passengers on a direct flight to Mumbai on Monday, though the final count was expected to be lower. Bakayoko highlighted that some passengers were reluctant to travel to India, having paid for a tourism trip to Nicaragua. The airline vehemently denied any involvement in potential human trafficking.

Under French law, foreigners can be detained in a transit zone for up to four days for police investigations, after which a special judge must decide whether to extend the detention for eight days. In response, local officials, medical professionals, and volunteers arranged for cots, regular meals, and showers for those held at the Vatry airport.

Notably, Nicaragua, designated by the US government as one of several countries failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, has served as a migratory gateway for individuals escaping poverty or conflict. This is partly due to relaxed or visa-free entry requirements for certain countries, with charter flights occasionally facilitating the journey.