The plane due to take migrants to Rwanda will not leave the UK as scheduled after last-minute interventions by the European Court of Human Rights.
British government sources have confirmed to the PA news agency that all migrants have been removed from the plane which was set to take off on tonight.
The European Court of Human Rights confirmed that it had granted an urgent interim measure in regards to an Iraqi national, and it is understood the Court was considering a number of further requests.
Speaking after the decision, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "It is very surprising that the European Court of Human Rights has intervened despite repeated earlier success in our domestic courts.
"These repeated legal barriers are similar to those we experience with other removals flights and many of those removed from this flight will be placed on the next."
She added: "We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation's borders. Our legal team are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparation for the next flight begins now."
Earlier, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested lawyers representing migrants were "abetting the work of criminal gangs" as last-ditch court hearings took place.
He had insisted the government would not be deterred from its policy, despite criticism from the Church of England and reportedly also from the Prince of Wales.
Mr Johnson acknowledged there had been criticism of the plan from "some slightly unexpected quarters" but highlighted the legal profession as the main source of opposition to the Rwanda policy, which will send asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the African nation.
As things stood early this evening, just seven people were due to be on board the plane following a string of legal challenges and Home Office reviews.
Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon said: "Whilst we are relieved to hear the flight to Rwanda did not take off as planned tonight it is clear that the Government remain determined to press on with this deal, leaving us to continue to witness the human suffering, distress, and chaos the threat of removal will cause with far reaching consequences for desperate people who are simply in need of safety.
"The fact that the final flight could not take off is indicative of the inhumanity of the plan and the Government's complete refusal to see the face behind the case."
He added: "Those threatened with removal are people who have escaped war, persecution, torture, and violence - many of whom have only been prevented from flying due to individual legal interventions declaring it a clear breach of their human rights to do so.
"The Refugee Council has also had to directly intervene to stop young people being removed to Rwanda because they were falsely assessed as adults.
Also reacting, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: "Tonight's inhumane deportation of asylum seekers to #Rwanda has been stopped by the ECtHR - minutes before it was due to depart.
"Sending people fleeing violence to a country thousands of miles away was already cruel and callous.
"It's now potentially unlawful too."
