Story By: James King, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
French police are investigating an Austrian airline accused of offering a private flight costing almost 30,000 GBP bringing illegal immigrants into the country.
The company identified as Tyrolean Jet Services was originally a division of the Austrian Swarovski crystal firm which later became an independent business in 1978.
It offers to transport passengers in luxury with on-board catering and drinks to any destination of their choice.
The border police, however, were not amused when it turned up from Istanbul at Orly airport with nine foreign passengers, none of whom had identity papers and all of whom announced their intention to stay in France after claiming asylum, according to a report in the newspaper Point.
The flight apparently happened on 13th December.
A policeman quoted by local media said: “It is extremely rare to charter a private jet to smuggle illegal immigrants.” He said that to start off with, most people planning on claiming asylum do not have the means to charter a private jet.
According to a low estimate based on the company’s fares, the transfer would have cost EUR 30,000 (GBP 27,506) each.
After the jet landed at Orly, the public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation for aiding illegal entry and residence in France. The investigations were entrusted to the Orly Border Police (PAF). The PAF investigators have reportedly already found identity documents torn into pieces in the plane’s cabin.
According to information from Le Point, the illegal immigrants claim to be Kurds and asked for political asylum on arrival. They were kept in the waiting area while their application was investigated.
Under the Code of Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum, the airline company is liable to a fine when it disembarks a foreigner who is not a citizen of a European Union Member State on French territory, without travel documents or a relevant visa.
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