Home Office forced to cancel deportation flight after migrant criminal swallows vape battery

A Home Office flight deporting an Egyptian foreign national offender was cancelled after the man swallowed a lithium vape battery before boarding the plane.

The man, who reportedly had a history of being disruptive during removal attempts, consumed the battery after being given a vape while held in segregated detention before the flight on Thursday, The Guardian reports.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated and returned to detention.

On Monday, the Home Office told The Independent it was supporting an investigation launched by contractor Mitie, which manages overseas deportations, over the incident.

A spokesperson for Mitie 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.”

It is understood that the man was to be flown on a charter plane from the UK to Albania, before being taken on another flight to Egypt.

While the journey to Egypt was cancelled, the flight to Albania did go ahead as part of a Home Office deportation operation.

Such flights to the Balkan country are common, with Albanian nationals accounting for more than a quarter of enforced returns from the UK last year.

The cost of the cancelled journey from Albania to Egypt is unknown, as is when the man will be booked on a new flight, with the Home Office reluctant to provide further details on deportation operations.

However, a spokesperson said: “Disruptive behaviour will not succeed, and we will be continuing with deportation action as soon as it is possible to do so.”

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