The first scheduled deportation charter of 2026, intended to send back asylum seekers who arrived in the UK via small boats has been called off, it has been learned.
Individuals selected for the government's 'one in, one out' initiative and who held tickets for a Wednesday morning departure were notified that their removal had been cancelled.
"I arrived on a boat with around 80 people aboard," said one detainee whose ticket was scrapped. "Ten of us were detained, while the other 70 were accommodated to have their asylum applications assessed here. That doesn't seem fair. I was relieved when our flight were called off, but the guards refused to provide a explanation. When I asked, they simply said, 'we can't tell you why.'"
An Unprecedented Cancellation for the Scheme
This is believed to be the first instance a 'one in, one out' removal charter flight has been cancelled, though it is not thought to be a result of legal action.
Detainee Report Published Prior to Cancellation
The flight's cancellation follows the circulation of a document on Monday, compiled by eighty individuals held in an detention facility near a major UK airport.
The report outlines grievances that while the majority of those who arrive on dinghies are having their applications considered within the UK, a smaller group has been held and given deportation orders. The men are said to view their confinement as "arbitrary and discriminatory."
The document adds: "We are not criminals. We are individuals who fled war, persecution, and injustice. We traveled to the UK believing in human rights, freedom, and safety. Instead, we are confined, isolated, and silenced."
Cost Implications of Charter Cancellations
When a removal flight is cancelled at the last minute, the government may face penalty fees amounting to tens of thousands of sterling to the plane provider. The specific arrangements for cross-Channel deportation charters are not publicly known.
Based on information involved in such deportations, the average cost for a one removal flight is approximately £250,000.
Earlier data released for 2022 indicated the mean expense was about £180,000, with costs varying based on the plane model, route, and other considerations.
Government Response
A representative said: "It is a long-established official position to not comment on specific procedures."
