QUITO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Ecuadorian government will file an appeal against Spain's Air Comet for alleged fraud, the Migration Ministry said Thursday.

    Ecuador is to accuse Air Comet and its legal representative in Ecuador, Germanico Maya, of alleged fraud, Acting Migration Minister Alexis Rivas said at a press conference.

    Clearly there were dishonesty and irresponsibility in Air Comet's operations, which caused damages, and in this case, to passengers who had bought its tickets, Rivas said, adding that his government demanded a preventive imprisonment of Maya.

    According to Rivas, Ecuador had evidence that Air Comet had a series of irregular operations, and the company continued offering services despite its liquidity and financial problems lately.

    The Spanish government on Tuesday suspended Air Comet's operating license after the company stopped its activities and canceled its scheduled flights between Madrid and Latin America, stranding some 7,000 people, among whom there were an estimate of 300 Ecuadorians.

    Rivas said that there would be flights en route from Spain to Quito to pick up passengers trapped in Madrid.