PARIS, Dec 14 (AFP) - Passengers on an Air France flight from Paris to Kinshasa prevented police from deporting three bound illegal immigrants Tuesday by refusing to allow the plane to take off.

The officers were forced to get off the aircraft, flight AF898 bound for the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the three detainees - two men and a women - who had their wrists and feet chained together.

French police often use commercial flights to repatriate illegal immigrants to Africa, despite occasional protests from passengers who consider the way the prisoners are handled inhumane and degrading.