The first scheduled flight of 2026, designed to return asylum seekers who came in the UK via small boats has been called off, it has been learned.
Individuals earmarked for the government's reciprocal returns scheme and who held tickets for a midweek flight were informed that their removal had been halted.
"I arrived on a boat with around 80 individuals aboard," stated one person whose removal was scrapped. "Ten of us were detained, while the other 70 were taken to hotels to have their asylum applications assessed here. That doesn't seem fair. I was relieved when our tickets were cancelled, but the guards would not tell us a reason. When I asked, they simply said, 'we can't tell you why.'"
An Unprecedented Halt for the Scheme
This marks the first instance a 'one in, one out' deportation specially arranged plane has been cancelled, though it is not believed to be a result of legal action.
Detainee Account Circulated Before Flight Halt
The charter's scrapping comes after the circulation of a document on Monday, compiled by around 80 individuals held in an immigration removal centre near a major UK airport.
The account highlights concerns that while the vast number of those who arrive on small boats are having their applications processed within the UK, a minority has been held and issued with removal directions. The men reportedly view their detention as "unjust and discriminatory."
The document adds: "We are not criminals. We are people who escaped war, persecution, and injustice. We traveled to the UK with faith in fundamental freedoms, liberty, and protection. In contrast, we are detained, separated, and ignored."
Cost Implications of Charter Scrapping
When a deportation charter is called off at short notice, the authorities may face penalty payments totaling tens of thousands of pounds to the aircraft provider. The exact contract terms for cross-Channel removal flights are not publicly known.
According to information involved in such operations, the typical expense for a single removal flight is around £250,000.
Previous figures released for 2022 indicated the mean expense was about £180,000, with prices fluctuating based on the type of aircraft, route, and other factors.
Government Statement
A spokesperson said: "It is a long-established official position to not comment on specific procedures."
