The inaugural deportation charter of 2026, designed to return asylum seekers who arrived in the UK via dinghies has been cancelled, it has been learned.
Detainees selected for the government's reciprocal returns scheme and who held tickets for a midweek flight were notified that their removal had been cancelled.
"I arrived on a vessel with around 80 individuals aboard," stated one detainee whose ticket was cancelled. "A group of 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 delighted when our flight were called off, but the guards would not provide a explanation. When I asked, they simply said, 'we can't tell you why.'"
An Unprecedented Halt for the Policy
This is believed to be the initial occasion a 'one in, one out' deportation specially arranged plane has been grounded, though it is not believed to be a result of court challenges.
Inmate Account Circulated Before Flight Halt
The charter's scrapping comes after the release of a report on Monday, prepared by eighty detainees held in an immigration removal centre near Heathrow airport.
The report highlights concerns that while the vast number of those arriving on small boats are having their asylum claims considered within the UK, a minority has been held and given removal directions. The men are said to view their confinement as "unjust and discriminatory."
The document adds: "We are not considered criminals. We are people who escaped war, oppression, and hardship. We traveled to the UK believing in human rights, liberty, and protection. Instead, we are confined, isolated, and ignored."
Cost Repercussions of Flight Cancellations
If a removal flight is cancelled at short notice, the government may face compensation payments amounting to tens of thousands of pounds to the aircraft provider. The exact arrangements for UK to France deportation charters are unclear.
Based on information familiar with such operations, the average cost for a single removal flight is around £250,000.
Previous data released for 2022 indicated the average cost was about £180,000, with prices varying based on the plane model, route, and other factors.
Official Statement
A spokesperson said: "It is a longstanding official position to refrain from commenting on operational matters."
