(DELHI, INDIA) Authorities launched a citywide manhunt on October 28, 2025 after a British national identified as Fitz Patrick fled the immigration area at Delhi Airport during a layover, in what officials called a major security lapse at one of India’s busiest gateways. Patrick, who had arrived from Bangkok on Air India flight AI 333, was slated for deportation to the United Kingdom via Thailand, but slipped past checks before he could be processed and left the terminal undetected, according to initial reports from security staff.
Immediate response and search operation
The escape triggered an urgent, multi-agency response at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). Teams from the Delhi Police, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the Bureau of Immigration fanned out across the National Capital Region (NCR) to locate the traveler.
- Officers registered a First Information Report (FIR) and began interviewing airline crew and ground staff who handled the Bangkok–Delhi sector and the onward movement to Thailand.
- Investigators are reviewing hours of CCTV footage to map Patrick’s movements from the jet bridge to the restricted arrival corridors and identify the point where he exited legally controlled space.
- Authorities circulated Patrick’s details to police stations across Delhi and the broader NCR and coordinated with neighborhood patrol units.
Teams also:
– Alerted transport hubs (bus depots, railway stations).
– Canvassed hotels and guesthouses near the airport.
– Followed “multiple leads” to determine whether he had local contacts or planned support.
How the breach may have happened
Senior officials said early indications suggest Patrick may have slipped through an unsecured part of the arrival zone, bypassing standard checks meant to prevent any passenger from leaving before completing immigration formalities.
- Investigators are tracking potential exit points used by staff and contractors.
- They are looking for doors that might have been propped open or incorrectly monitored.
- The CISF is reconstructing the timeline from touchdown to disappearance, including transfer from the arrival gate to immigration counters.
Any suggestion of local facilitation remains unproven; the working theory currently centers on a lapse rather than active collusion.
Sensitivity of the detainee’s status
Patrick was in transit at IGI while on a path to deportation to the United Kingdom routed via Thailand. That status increased the sensitivity of his custody.
- Deportees are typically kept in special holding zones and escorted under strict protocols.
- According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airports often require escort protocols and designated holding areas for such cases, which makes any breach notable.
Because he was a deportee, authorities are reviewing:
– Escort logs and handover notes between airline staff and immigration officers.
– Staffing levels and escort assignments.
– Whether routines for removals and deportations were followed as documented.
Technical and procedural inquiries
Investigators are focusing on a combination of technical and procedural factors:
- Staffing levels and escort assignments at the time of arrival.
- Alarms and access control logs for unusual activity in international transit corridors.
- Camera coverage and monitoring software, particularly near emergency exits and staff-only doors.
The Bureau of Immigration said a formal internal review is underway, along with a wider assessment of IGI’s protocols that could lead to new measures such as:
- More secure holding areas for high-risk passengers.
- Additional escorts during peak arrivals.
- Improved access control around staff-only doors near immigration halls.
- Upgrades to camera coverage and monitoring software.
Public materials outlining entry and transit controls are available on the Bureau of Immigration website: https://boi.gov.in.
Role of the airline and legal steps
Air India confirmed the flight number and the Bangkok–Delhi sector but declined to discuss specific security steps tied to a single passenger.
- Airline security teams typically follow strict protocols for removals and deportations (seat assignments, handoffs, oversight during transfers).
- Investigators are checking whether those routines were adhered to and whether miscommunication contributed to the gap.
The FIR will serve as the legal foundation for potential criminal charges, including:
– Breaching restricted areas.
– Obstructing public servants on duty.
Why rapid response matters
Security experts noted that the initial phase after an escape is crucial. The longer a person remains outside controlled zones, the more easily they can blend into city traffic and reduce the chances of quick capture.
- Rapid notifications to transport nodes and broad alerts across the NCR aim to limit that window.
- CCTV review is expected to provide a clearer timeline of movements and any changes in appearance (e.g., shedding a jacket or switching a carry-on) that could indicate attempts to evade detection.
Broader policy implications
This incident raises broader questions for airport management and policy:
- International hubs like IGI handle complex passenger flows (deportations, medical transfers, emergency diversions), each with different risk profiles.
- When a breach exposes a gap, agencies often respond with both targeted fixes and refresher training for guards and airline staff.
- Longer-term infrastructure changes may include reconfiguring corridors or adding controlled vestibules around doors to reduce the chance of repeat breaches.
Public reaction and official reassurance
Families and travelers on social media expressed mixed reactions—relief that no harm was reported at the terminal, and concern about how a supervised passenger could leave so easily.
- Officials acknowledged public worry and asked for patience while evidence is collected.
- They said the airport community will adopt required changes to strengthen controls without slowing legitimate travel.
The priority remains to locate the British national and return him to lawful custody so immigration formalities can be completed.
How the public can help
Delhi Police urged anyone with pertinent information to contact local stations. The agencies responsible for IGI’s security are working to seal gaps that allowed this incident to happen, balancing quick fixes with durable solutions because large airports rely on systems that must work accurately around the clock.
This Article in a Nutshell
On October 28, 2025 Fitz Patrick, a British national due for deportation, escaped the immigration area at Delhi’s IGI Airport after arriving from Bangkok on flight AI 333. Delhi Police, CISF and the Bureau of Immigration launched a citywide search, filed an FIR and are reviewing CCTV, escort logs and access-control records. Early indicators point to a procedural or access lapse rather than collusion. Authorities plan technical upgrades, more secure holding areas and additional escorts while continuing the investigation.
