Deportee to India breaks free at Heathrow runway, caught and pinned down

India Today

10-06-2025

A probe has been launched after an immigration detainee scheduled for deportation from the UK to India broke free and was seen running erratically across the tarmac at Heathrow Airport in London. The man had escaped prior to boarding a commercial flight which was due to depart for India, according a report in the UK-based Daily Mail.A video of the incident has surfaced on the internet, in which the man is seen running across the Heathrow tarmac, chased by a few airport staff. Reports stated the commotion went on for several minutes before the man was finally caught by security staff.advertisementThe incident came to light because it was captured by a plane spotter and posted on the YouTube channel, Big Jet TV, The Guardian reported. The immigration detainee sprinted across the runway at Terminal 2 on Sunday.
A spokesperson for Mitie, which holds a Home Office contract for removing people from the UK, told the Guardian: "An investigation into the incident is underway. The individual was quickly apprehended, reboarded the flight, and was handed over to the relevant authorities on landing".The individual recording the event is heard questioning, "What's happening here? Why are there people running across the tarmac?"After the detainee was stopped, the narrator added, "What the hell was that all about? They are stopping aircraft taxiing as well".In the video, a van can be seen pursuing him shortly after, and staff wearing high-visibility jackets manage to catch him. Soon after, a police van arrives to escort him away.advertisementAccording to a report in The Daily Mail, the man was pinned to the ground as he was arrested by the police.A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said there were no delays to flights and the incident was quickly resolved.Sources from the Metropolitan Police confirmed their involvement in apprehending the man, after which the airport returned to normal operations, according to the report in The Guardian. (Video: Big Jet)AVIATION EXPERT RAISED SAFETY CONCERN ON HEATHROW AIRPORT VIDEOJohn Van Hoogstraten, aviation expert at Straten Consulting Services Ltd, explained that the airport's movement area includes the entire airside, where all activity, wildlife or people, must be monitored."The minute an unaccounted person is airside there's no protection about what happens next in operations. In these cases, aircraft have to cease operations. They will be told to stop immediately. Safety is paramount," The Guardian quoted Hoogstraten as saying."A jet blast is sufficient to severely injure, if not kill, a person. The reaction of a pilot trying to land a plane and seeing a person try to cross a runway can be devastating," he added.