Tennis Player Mistakenly Identified as Deportee, Escorted Off Plane

A British tennis player was mistakenly identified as a deportee and escorted off a plane upon arrival in Lithuania, according to reports. Stuart Burden, 48, was traveling to Vilnius on August 23 to serve as a hitter for visually impaired players at the World Blind Tennis Championships.

Burden boarded a Wizz Air flight at London Luton Airport wearing his team's tracksuit, which prominently featured a Union Jack and the letters 'GB.' Despite having paid for an extra legroom seat, he was moved to the rear of the aircraft by a flight attendant without explanation.

Upon landing in Vilnius, a security official approached Burden, informing him that he was a 'deportee from the UK.' He stated that he was then marched off the plane in front of other passengers and taken for questioning, even after presenting his UK passport.

"I was wearing a Union Jack – you couldn’t make it up," Burden told the Daily Mail. "I thought it was a joke at first. He told me I had been deported and that I had to go with him."

Burden explained that he attempted to clarify the situation with security, stating he was a tennis player and that his team was also on board, but his explanations were not accepted. He was then escorted to a police vehicle and taken for questioning, where he was asked if he was being deported.

Meanwhile, Burden's teammates, who were still on the plane, inquired about his whereabouts. It was at this point that the cabin crew realized a mistake had been made.

Following the questioning, an official escorted Burden out of the airport, and according to Burden, no apology was offered. He expressed concern that the error could have potentially allowed a genuine deportee to be released in Lithuania.

A spokesperson for Wizz Air stated, "We are extremely sorry to hear of the experience of a passenger travelling from London Luton to Vilnius and we are working with the relevant authorities to establish the full circumstances of the incident." The airline added that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew are its highest priorities and that the crew fully cooperated with authorities.

Lithuanian authorities were contacted for comment.