A deportation flight was abruptly cancelled after an Egyptian detainee swallowed a vape battery just moments before takeoff. The man, labelled a foreign national offender, was due to be flown to Albania on a private jet before being sent back to Egypt.
Swallowing Vape Battery Halts Deportation
In a bizarre twist, the detainee was held in segregation and handed a vape device. He shockingly swallowed the lithium battery inside, sparking an emergency hospital rush. After treatment, he was returned to detention, but the incident forced officials to scrap the entire flight.
Probe Launched as Deportation Looms
An investigation is underway amid reports the man has a track record of disruptive behaviour during previous deportation attempts.
A Mitie spokesperson, the firm managing overseas removals for the Home Office, said: “This incident is currently being investigated. At this point, there is no evidence to suggest any wrongdoing or breach of procedure by our colleagues. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of those in our care.”
A Home Office spokesperson added: “Disruptive behaviour will not succeed, and we will continue with deportation action as soon as it is possible to do so.”