The first scheduled deportation charter of 2026, designed to return asylum seekers who came in the UK via small boats has been cancelled, according to reports.
Detainees earmarked for the UK's reciprocal returns scheme and who held tickets for a Wednesday morning flight were notified that their removal had been halted.
"I came on a vessel with approximately eighty individuals aboard," said one detainee whose removal was cancelled. "Ten of us were detained, while the other 70 were accommodated to have their asylum applications processed here. That isn't fair. I was relieved when our tickets were cancelled, but the officers refused to provide a explanation. When I asked, they simply said, 'we can't tell you why.'"
An Unprecedented Cancellation for the Policy
This is believed to be the initial occasion a returns removal charter flight has been cancelled, though it is not thought to be a result of legal action.
Inmate Report Published Before Flight Halt
The flight's cancellation follows the circulation of a document on Monday, compiled by around 80 detainees held in an detention facility near a major UK airport.
The account highlights grievances that while the vast number of those who arrive on dinghies are having their applications processed within the UK, a minority has been detained and given deportation orders. The men are said to view their detention as "arbitrary and discriminatory."
The report adds: "We are not criminals. We are individuals who fled war, persecution, and hardship. We traveled to the UK with faith in human rights, liberty, and protection. Instead, we are detained, isolated, and ignored."
Financial Implications of Flight Scrapping
When a deportation charter is called off at the last minute, the authorities may face compensation payments totaling many thousands of pounds to the aircraft leasing company. The exact contract terms for cross-Channel deportation charters are unclear.
According to sources familiar with such deportations, the average cost for a one removal flight is approximately £250,000.
Previous figures published for 2022 indicated the average cost was about £180,000, with prices varying based on the type of aircraft, route, and other factors.
Official Statement
A spokesperson declined to comment: "As a matter of a longstanding government policy to not comment on specific procedures."
