French police were questioning two men Friday a day after officials grounded a Nicaragua-bound plane carrying more than 300 Indian passengers over suspected "human trafficking," prosecutors said.

The Airbus A340 had flown in from the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, landing at Vatry airport in eastern France for a technical stopover.

It was held by French authorities after an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying passengers "likely to be victims of human trafficking," the Paris prosecutors office told Agence France-Presse. The two men in custody were among the passengers.

"Identity checks are being carried on the 303 passengers and on the cabin crew," the prosecutor's office said. They were also checking the conditions in which the passengers were being transported and the purpose of their journey.

The prefecture in the north-eastern department of Marne said the A340, operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines, "remained grounded on the tarmac at Vatry airport following its landing" on Thursday.

A source close to the case said that minors were among the passengers.

The national anti-organized crime unit JUNALCO is leading the investigation, prosecutors said.

According to a source familiar with the case, the passengers might have planned to travel to Central America in order to attempt illegal entry into the United States or Canada.

After landing in France, they were first kept on the aircraft, but then let out and given individual beds in the terminal building.

They were set to remain at the airport overnight Friday, local authorities said.

The Indian embassy in France said in a statement on X that the authorities in Paris had informed them of the situation.

"Embassy team has reached & obtained consular access," it added. "We are investigating the situation, also ensuring wellbeing of passengers."      

WITH AFP