Passenger protest rescues refugees from deportation

The NCADC reports that refugee Rose-Jane Wanjohi and her UK-born daughter Natale were saved from deportation after passengers on the plane they were due to be flown out of the country in refused to allow the plane to take off.

Rose-Jane and Natale were taken from detention and "escorted" onto a British Airways flight by four security guards this morning. Meanwhile, supporters were leafleting passengers about to board British Airways Flight BA65 to Nairobi.

The leaflets explained that a fellow-passenger and baby were being taken against their will into extreme danger. As Rose-Jane sat on the plane, several passengers refused to fasten their seat belts. The pilot would not take off until it was resolved, and so Rose-Jane and Natale were taken from the plane.

Speaking from the van taking her back to the detention centre, Rose-Jane told NCADC: "I don't know what to say. I am so happy. I would like to thank my friends, and thank the people on the plane, for saving my life and my daughter. Thank you so much. God bless you."

Rose-Jane and Natale are not out of danger yet but are now back in the relative safety of Yarls Wood.

It's so good to hear happy news sometimes and this points to how even in the most desperate circumstances we can win sometimes. With the dedicated work of NCADC campaigners and the support of "ordinary" members of the public it really is possible to stop the state in its tracks.