Does Virgin Atlantic pass on concerns about welfare of deportees to Pilots?VS651
Dear Professional Pilots - especially on Virgin Atlantic
I'm a law student working with a group that supports asylum seekers to obtain their rights to protection from persecution. We are helping a lady with a young child who are due to be removed against their will on Virgin Airlines VS651 from Heathrow at 22:10 today 3rd Feb. She and her child are in fear of grave harm if returned to Nigeria and for this reason she has asked for her name to be kept from a public campaign. We have obtained a visit to her from Medical Justice and a new lawyer and believe she has a good case that her travel on VS651 will be injurious to her and her daughter's health and that a new legal challenge is possible. However, it is possible she will be removed tonight before such a legal challenge can be lodged.
We know that a very large number of people have contacted Virgin Atlantic Customer Services and they are aware of the grave concerns of these people for the lady and her child's welfare and for that of other passengers who may witness her and her child's forcible detention on the aircraft. However, unlike some other airlines we cannot ascertain whether the Pilot or other crew of VS651 tonight are aware of this situation. We believe that if they are made aware they may want a chance to consider the welfare and human rights issues involved in this case. Can anyone help me to find out if this information has been circulated to the Pilot.
Any views on how commonly this information is shared with Pilots by their airlines would be of great interest too.