Thread by @HannahGaffey

🚨 THREAD 🚨

On Friday 10th November the @British_Airways flight (BA2263) I was on was used to attempt a deportation to Kingston, Jamaica. The man involved had lived in the UK since he was four. He was physically restrained by SIX members of (Home Office/security?) staff

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Here is a thread about how I spotted that it was a deportation flight, what passengers did to help him get off the flight and recommendations for what to do if you find yourself in this situation.

First, how I knew that something was unusual before getting on the flight:

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1⃣ The flight was not on the departure board on Gatwick Airport’s website
2⃣ We got to the gate more than an hour before departure, but we started boarding after the flight was due to take off. This was due to “last minute checks of the aircraft”.

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3⃣ They called approx 3 specific rows to board first, rather than in boarding groups. The passengers called were seated at the back of the plane
4⃣ I saw a man in a hi vis with “immigration” written on it walking from the direction of the aircraft to the departure gate

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After I became suspicious that I was about to board a deportation flight, I walked up to a member of BA staff working at the gate and asked if somebody was getting deported on this flight. She paused for a second and said, “yes”. I was shocked but impressed by her honesty

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After this I went back to my seat and cried (not very helpful!). Then I called a friend to ask for advice and we agreed that I should get in touch with a mutual aid group for advice. I called @DetentionAction as I was boarding the plane and explained what was happening.

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1⃣ When I reached the aircraft doors, I asked the flight attendant if British Airways could guarantee this person’s safety upon arriving in Jamaica. She said it was nothing to do with her, that she was just cabin crew.

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The flight attendant referred me to a member of ground staff at Gatwick, I asked her the same question. She told me that the person being deported had done something “bad” and that is why he was leaving the country. She also said I was free to speak with him if I wanted…

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…that he was sitting at the rear of the aircraft with 6 members of staff physically restraining him. She said she wouldn't recommend talking to him as it had taken an hour to get him onboard. I felt that she was implying that he is aggressive and difficult to talk to.

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So I made my way to my seat, which also happened to be towards the back of the aircraft.

2⃣ Once I reached my seat, there was a lot of commotion. It would have been very hard to ignore a man being physically restrained whilst saying “get off me” and “you’re hurting me”

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At this point I explained to my fellow passengers that this man was being deported. There were some that shared a feeling of injustice that this was happening, and we were vocal about that. I felt hopeful at this point because I had allies.

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The BA staff were keen for us to sit down and stop talking about it. So,

3⃣ We stayed standing. The aircraft is not allowed to take off whilst people are standing. So we did that. Eventually it was just me and an older Black man in the row behind me who were stood up.

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We were asked by staff again to sit down. Understandably, fellow passengers were annoyed at us because we were preventing take off. I started to get stressed about being kicked off the flight because the head of cabin crew said that she would if I didn’t sit down.

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I spoke to the man sitting behind me and eventually both of us took our seats. I felt incredibly cowardly at this point because I had but my own wish to travel on the plane to visit my friend, over the possibility of this man not having to be deported.

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The head of cabin crew came to speak to me again and I asked if it was a good idea to have 6 people physically restraining one man on a 9+ hour flight. She told me not to concern myself with the man or what was happening (?!?!?!). Classic “I’m alright, Jack” energy.

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I also asked if there was anyone with him that had concern for his well being and she said yes a medic. I asked her to identify the medic and she said it was the woman in the group of people restraining him (?!?!?!?!?!?!)

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We had started driving around the runway at this point and the man was clearly getting more and more distressed. He was trying to put up more of a fight against the people restraining him, but it was not working. We all knew that it was now or never. It was at this…

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…point that people said it was futile to try and help him because he would just get deported another day. I also heard people a few rows in front calling him a criminal. I thought this was interesting because literally none of us know this man or why he is on this plane

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Also, since when do we believe the Home Office when they call someone a criminal? Does anyone remember the Windrush scandal? At around this time I heard him speak a bit more clearly and I am 99% convinced that he is mancunian! I am betraying one of my own.

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We are STILL driving around the tarmac. The captain announces that we will be staying on the tarmac because there was disruption at the rear of the plane and people were not sitting in their seats. Most people groan, but I realise that he might be getting off the plane!

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I turn around and the staff are no longer restraining him and he is standing up and smiling, looking very much not dangerous. He's probably getting off the plane! I start to feel elated but I am also worried that he won't actually be let off. After about 10 minutes…

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the rear door of the plane opens and he leaves the aircraft with the 6 staff. He says "thank you everyone" before leaving. We cheer and I hear some people talking about the fact that he has been in the UK since he was 4 years old. I cannot believe it. He’s off the plane

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The captain made another announcement saying something about customer safety being the utmost priority at British Airways and therefore a passenger had to leave. Very vague. He also says he thinks we will be off the ground in another 45 minutes. More groans.

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Since I know we are not going anywhere, I called Detention Action again to say the man got off the plane. I explained in as much detail as possible what had happened and they asked if I had filmed anything or got his name or anything. I said no, there was too much…

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adrenaline coursing around my body to even think about documenting what was happening. But I remembered that someone else was filming, so later on in the flight I asked them to email it over to Detention Action. The DA staff member gave me advice about what to next time:

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1⃣ Speak to the person being deported and ask about their safety. Both how they feel now and about arrival in the country
2⃣ Advocate for the person to be able to speak to the captain
3⃣ Stay standing, refuse to sit! Risks being kicked off the flight and possibly arrest

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There are many things that I wish I could have done better upon reflection, but I am glad that he managed to get off the flight. This will not resolve the living in limbo that he and many other people in detention centres face. The hostile environment continues.

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Some questions I have:

1⃣ Should @British_Airways passengers have to tick a box saying "I consent to being on a deportation flight" when booking tickets?!
2⃣ On WHAT PLANET is it a good idea to physically restrain someone for a long haul flight?

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3⃣ Why did people on the plane assume that he has committed a crime? Nobody knows for sure why he is on the plane in the first place.
4⃣ If this man committed a crime in Britain, is it not Britain who should have responsibility for what happens next?

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5⃣ Why don’t @British_Airways staff see any of this as their problem? Why don't they press their management to boycott deportation flights? Human rights violations aside, it causes disruption to the flight and therefore negative experiences for all onboard

*thread ends*

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