Investigation Underway After Deportee Escapes on Heathrow Runway

An investigation has been launched following a serious security breach at Heathrow Airport on June 8, 2025, when an immigration detainee managed to break free from his restraints and sprint across a runway near Terminal 2. The man, who was being deported to India, escaped from his guard’s while being escorted to the plane. He shed his waist restraint belt and ran across the tarmac in a highly secure area near aircraft taxiways, prompting immediate safety concerns.

The incident was filmed by a plane spotter and shared on the YouTube channel Big Jet TV. In the footage, the narrator can be heard expressing confusion and concern as the man runs across the runway, with aircraft being ordered to stop taxiing for safety. A Heathrow spokesperson confirmed that the airport worked swiftly with partners to resolve the situation, and normal operations resumed shortly after.

The detainee was quickly apprehended, reboarded onto the flight, and handed over to authorities upon arrival in India. Mitie, the private company contracted by the UK Home Office for deportations, has initiated an internal investigation into the incident. Aviation experts emphasized the seriousness of such breaches, noting the critical safety risks posed by unauthorized individuals on runways, including the potential for injury or fatality from jet blasts or derailed landing protocols.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and security protocols surrounding deportations and the movement of detainees within airports. The outcome of the investigation may lead to reassessments of current procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.