Two men arrested after France grounds flight with over 300 Indians

French police on Saturday arrested two men after grounding a Nicaragua-bound plane with more than 300 Indian passengers onboard over suspected "human trafficking" a day earlier.

According to NDTV, Indian authorities have also reached the scene and are investigating the situation.

A charter flight carrying 303 Indian passengers to Nicaragua was grounded in France on Friday for a judicial investigation.

The Airbus A340, owned by a Romanian charter company named Legend Airlines, had landed at Vatry airport in eastern France, 150km from Paris, for a technical stopover after flying in from the United Arab Emirates.

The plane was grounded by authorities after an anonymous tip-off that some of the passengers on board were "victims of human trafficking", the Paris prosecutor said.

The arrested men are being questioned by a unit specialising in organised crime, NDTV reported.

Liliana Bakayoko, who said she was a lawyer for Legend Airlines, told AFP that the company believed it had done nothing wrong, had committed no offence "and is at the disposal of the French authorities".

However, the airline would take legal action if the prosecutors file charges, she added.

India has been granted consular access to those onboard the flight and officials have reached the spot to investigate and ensure the well-being of the passengers, according to the Indian Embassy in France.

Officials suspect that the passengers might have planned to travel to Central America to attempt illegal entry into the United States or Canada.

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

"The reception hall at Vatry airport was transformed into a waiting area with individual beds to provide passengers with the best possible reception conditions," the prefect's office said.

Officials have not provided an update on when the foreign nationals can leave France.

Border police can hold them for up to four days if they land in France and are prevented from travelling on to their intended destination. If approved, the period can be extended to eight days, and in exceptional circumstances, up to 26 days.