Tennis player removed from flight: 'I thought it was a joke'

48-year-old British tennis player Stuart Burden, who was flying to Vilnius for the World Championships for blind athletes, was removed from a Wizz Air flight after landing. He was taken off the plane as if being deported, placed in a police car for questioning, and then released without an apology. Burden said he initially thought it was a joke.

48-year-old British tennis player Stuart Burden was traveling from Luton Airport to Vilnius for the World Blind Tennis Championships, where he was to assist visually impaired athletes. During the flight, he was moved to the back of the plane, and after landing in Lithuania, he was escorted off the aircraft by security personnel, who stated he was 'being deported from the UK.' Burden said he initially could not believe what was happening and thought it was a joke. He was taken off the plane and placed in a police car for questioning, while the rest of his team remained on board. It later emerged that a mistake had been made, and the employee who removed Burden disappeared without apologizing. The tennis player criticized the staff's actions, noting that such an error could have had serious consequences. Wizz Air stated it regrets the incident and is cooperating with authorities to clarify the circumstances.