A Home Office charter flight intended to remove five immigration offenders to Egypt was **called off at the last minute on 15 February** after one passenger swallowed the lithium battery from an e-cigarette in a reported act of self-harm. The incident, confirmed by contractor Mitie and first reported by The Guardian, forced Border Force escorts to divert the individual to hospital, leaving the flight manifest below the minimum threshold needed to justify departure.
The episode highlights the growing operational complexity and cost of high-security ‘air taxi’ removals, which critics say can exceed £10,000 per passenger once medical staff, escorts and empty-leg positioning flights are included. The Government defends the practice as essential for removing disruptive individuals who cannot fly commercial, but campaigners argue it amounts to ‘immigration theatre’ that drains resources better spent on case-resolution.
![Private-Jet Deportation Halted After Detainee Swallows Vape Battery]()
In this wider context of travel risk management, VisaHQ can help companies and individual travellers stay compliant with fast-changing immigration rules. Its UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers streamlined visa and passport processing, reducing administrative headaches and minimising the likelihood of last-minute disruptions similar to those that can plague charter removals.
From a mobility-compliance perspective, the story underlines the reputational risks associated with using small charter operators; politically charged incidents can spark media scrutiny of any corporate passengers sharing airport facilities or FBO lounges. Companies with regular executive jet movements are advised to review vendor vetting and segregation protocols to avoid inadvertent association with removal operations.
The Home Office says an internal review will examine how the detainee accessed the battery after pre-flight security checks and whether medical screening protocols need tightening. No new removal date has been set.
The episode highlights the growing operational complexity and cost of high-security ‘air taxi’ removals, which critics say can exceed £10,000 per passenger once medical staff, escorts and empty-leg positioning flights are included. The Government defends the practice as essential for removing disruptive individuals who cannot fly commercial, but campaigners argue it amounts to ‘immigration theatre’ that drains resources better spent on case-resolution.
In this wider context of travel risk management, VisaHQ can help companies and individual travellers stay compliant with fast-changing immigration rules. Its UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers streamlined visa and passport processing, reducing administrative headaches and minimising the likelihood of last-minute disruptions similar to those that can plague charter removals.
From a mobility-compliance perspective, the story underlines the reputational risks associated with using small charter operators; politically charged incidents can spark media scrutiny of any corporate passengers sharing airport facilities or FBO lounges. Companies with regular executive jet movements are advised to review vendor vetting and segregation protocols to avoid inadvertent association with removal operations.
The Home Office says an internal review will examine how the detainee accessed the battery after pre-flight security checks and whether medical screening protocols need tightening. No new removal date has been set.
