An official inquiry has been launched after a detainee facing deportation from the UK escaped his restraints and bolted across a runway at Heathrow Airport, narrowly missing active aircraft movements.
The man, who was moments away from being deported to India, managed to break free from the grip of security personnel escorting him with a waist restraint belt.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Sunday near Terminal 2 and was captured on video by a plane spotter.
The footage, later published on the popular YouTube channel Big Jet TV, shows the individual sprinting across a live taxiway.
The commentator can be heard expressing shock: “What’s going on here? Why would people be running across the tarmac?” Following the man’s apprehension, they added: “What the hell was that all about? They are stopping aircraft taxiing as well.”
The individual was quickly apprehended and reboarded the deportation flight, according to a spokesperson from Mitie, the private security firm contracted by the Home Office for deportation removals.
“An investigation into the incident is under way. The individual was quickly apprehended, reboarded the flight, and was handed over to the relevant authorities upon landing,” the spokesperson told The Guardian.
Scotland Yard confirmed its officers assisted in detaining the individual, and normal airport operations resumed shortly thereafter.
Aviation expert John Van Hoogstraten, of Straten Consulting Services Ltd, highlighted the gravity of the security breach: “The airport’s movement area is strictly controlled.
The presence of an unaccounted person airside triggers immediate halts to all aircraft activity. A jet blast can be fatal. The potential reaction of a pilot seeing someone dash across the runway could have devastating consequences.”
Heathrow Airport officials released a statement, saying: “In collaboration with our partners, we swiftly resolved an incident involving an individual gaining access to the taxiway. Flights continue to operate normally, and passenger travel is unaffected.”
Home Office sources confirmed that Mitie is conducting a full investigation into the security lapse.
