Passenger escorted onto plane by armed officers

[latesummerreminiscing]

I took a flight from Germany to the UK yesterday and noticed at the gate were two armed officers waiting with a paper document at the gate. Then, that particular passenger was escorted onto the plane before anyone else, by both officers, they filled out paperwork before the rest were allowed onto the flight. No police were not with him on the flight though. He was in the front seat and very calm during the flight. What on earth was this about?? Lots of people were really worried

Maybe but what was described doesn't seem like the most subtle way of doing it.

Most times the general public are utterly unaware.

I'd put money on the fact a lot of the regular travellers here (especially those who fly Long Haul a lot) will have been on board with deportees or those turned as being inadmissibles and never realised.

Erm, okay?

I had to have armed guards escort me on to a flight from NY to London once, as I was the last to board (I was in the toilets at the boarding gate, and didn’t hear they had started to board 😬). They were about to unload my luggage.

I apologise to everyone one that flight that day. Lesson learned.

No but we will be turned away if we don’t have enough time left on our passports!

I saw similar, but a woman extradited from the UK. She sat at the back of the plane (across from me and my small child, glaring at us). At the destination she was met by airport police and was taken off the place first. I assumed it was deportation.

There’s always feelings of uneasiness seeing armed officers. But thinking rationally - if this guy was dangerous or a risk to the public he would not have been allowed to fly alone. He would have needed to be cuffed to an officer at all times on the flight.

He was obviously escorted onto the plane by officers as they would have needed to ensure he got on the flight, for whatever reason.

It's usual when you have violated your visa conditions, to be escorted to the border or onto the plane to ensure you leave the country. That's all. Lots of people violate visa conditions and Germany just get rid of them, same as we do.

No but they are limited to 90 days and will be removed if officials notice - usually going from one Shengen to another.

@CherrieTomaties

But thinking rationally - if this guy was dangerous or a risk to the public he would not have been allowed to fly alone.

I'm no longer up to date on this and not sure how much is supposed to be in the public domain but I think it's OK to say that's a very valid assumption.

But there will be loads of criminals on planes. Remember years ago my police officer husband seeing someone he knew had a warrant out and ringing it in.

Very standard practice for someone denied entry to a country. Nothing to worry about.

I’d have crapped myself, OP. Seen con air enough times not to be taking any chances

To make sure he got on.

And they probably hung about outside the plane until it taxied away from the gate, to make sure he didn't get off!

Sounds like one of my ex-BFs 😜

This needs to be made into a movie starring Maggie Smith!

King’s Messenger accompanying diplomatic mail.

You think that's what the OP saw?

If so have to say I've never seen or heard of one boarded in that manner...

I am German and the police here are always armed - by British standards probably quite heavily.

@OneMintWasp That reminds me ... I worked for the army in Hannover for a couple of years in the mid-70s and one Easter weekend decided to go to Berlin, on the train. I got a terrific bollocking when I got back, on the grounds that the visa in my passport (which was obviously inspected by the East German border guards four times, in and out) showed that I was an employee of the British Forces.

I was duly contrite but thought it best not to mention that I had also been on a tour of East Berlin, so they'd had six looks at it! 😆

The police were protecting the man, Why, we can only wonder but if he had been a danger to others, he'd have had an escorted journey all the way.

Define "heavily armed"

He was leaving Germany to the UK.

I suspect, as @Mia184 said, that just means "armed" as in carrying guns. Police in many European countries are "heavily armed" by UK standards.