Breaking news that will leave a sour taste for many England fans - the Three Lions' World Cup squad has flown on a plane with a dark past. A charter jet used by Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) was snapped ferrying the team to their next destination after a series of friendlies in Florida, but what it's done before is truly shocking. This aircraft, it appears, was part of a notorious fleet that played a key role in the US government's migrant deportation programme.
Aviation sleuths at FlightRadar24 have tracked the plane to March 15, 2025, when it was allegedly involved in a grim deportation flight from Texas to the troubled CECOT prison in San Salvador. Conditions inside that facility are far from ideal, with reports of unsanitary conditions and regular assaults on detainees making headlines worldwide.
GlobalX's involvement in this murky business has been well-documented, and it turns out they've got a five-year contract with the US government to operate ICE Air deportation flights. In 2024 alone, GlobalX was responsible for over 74% of these heart-wrenching trips - one of which involved Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who was later cleared of charges but still faces deportation.
The question on everyone's lips is: did the England team or the FA know about GlobalX's involvement in this sorry saga? And if they didn't, what exactly does it say about their due diligence when it comes to selecting travel partners? The revelations have already sparked calls for greater transparency and accountability in sports travel arrangements.
The focus might be on football right now, but this scandal is a timely reminder of the bigger picture. Will Gareth Southgate's team be able to put this controversy behind them as they head into the World Cup? Or will it serve as a thorn in their side throughout their campaign?