1. Was the Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă Romană contacted about this incident? If so, can you provide any additional information? „We learned of an incident on July 16, 2023, when Legend Airline operated a flight from the United Arab Emirates that landed in San Salvador but was turned around after an 8 hour wait at the airport with the 300-some Indian passengers not allowed to disembark. Former crew members on the flight and interviews with US officials said there were concerns that some Indian passengers travelling to Central America on such charter flights had plans to irregularly migrate to the United States”.
Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority was informed about the described incident, but since it is not an issue related to the safety of the air operations performed by the forementioned air operator, Romanian CAA has no legal responsibility as regards the immigrations laws applicable in the United States of America.
2. Was the Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă Romană’s aware of these flights and were there any concerns about them beyond the flight that was turned around from San Salvador and the flight that was detained in France? „We also learned that Legend Airlines has operated about 8 similar flights headed to Central America (including the flight that was detained in France).”
Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority is aware about the flights you refer to in your request, but as we mentioned on the previous paragraph, it is not RCAA responsibility to handle the passenger permission to enter a different country. In the context of safe operations and the oversight responsibilities of the Romanian CAA, an audit has been performed and the conclusions are confidential.
3. Are there any ongoing conversations with the United States and/or any other government authorities about this issue? „We also learned that Legend Airlines has operated about 8 similar flights headed to Central America (including the flight that was detained in France).”
Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority did not participate in any ongoing conversations with any foreign Government authorities for the flights you mentioned in your request.
4. Is the Autoritatea Aeronautică Civilă Romană aware of any ongoing investigations into any of these flights? „We also learned that Legend Airlines has operated about 8 similar flights headed to Central America (including the flight that was detained in France).”
Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority is not aware of investigations that might implicate the airline company you refer to.