Tube passenger sparks travel chaos after jumping onto tracks to retrieve AirPod earphone

29 April 2025, 07:51 | Updated: 29 April 2025, 13:10

A Tube commuter sparked fury after jumping onto the tracks to rescue what appeared to be an AirPod earphone at Earl’s Court station, causing travel chaos.

Train bosses were told to stop nearby services to allow camera footage determine whether the passenger was trapped under the District line carriage.

Hundreds of customers were stuck on trains held at red signals in tunnels.

The driver involved said they suffered “emotional toll” of not knowing whether there was a person under their train.

Hama Patel, senior operating officer at London Underground, wrote in a social media post: “An AirPod Isn’t Worth a Life.

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"This afternoon, we had to hold all services for 12 minutes while we reviewed CCTV to make sure someone was clear of the track.

“Hundreds of customers were stuck on trains, many just outside platforms, waiting in discomfort and uncertainty. The reason? Someone had jumped down onto the track to retrieve a dropped AirPod.

"We understand the frustration of losing something valuable—but no item is worth risking your life for.'

They stressed that the track is not a safe environment with rails carrying enough "live electricity powerful enough to kill."

"Even if you avoid the current, the possibility of being struck by a train, slipping, or becoming disoriented is dangerously high.," they added.

TfL spokesman said: “As a train was departing the platform, the train operator saw on their CCTV monitors a person access the track. They stopped their train immediately but had lost sight of the person and were concerned they may be under their train.

“The station started to prepare to close in response to a potential person under train.”

Earlier this month, London Mayor Sadiq Khan told LBC he will not take any action amid growing reports of crack cocaine use on the capital’s public transport.

“You shouldn't be breaking the law, whether it's on the underground or on the surface,” he said.

“It's really important that people realise on the TFL network. Not only have we the Metropolitan Police on buses, on the surface, subsurface, we've got British Transport Police.”

He added: “I'd say to anybody who sees somebody breaking the law in a way that's safe to you, let BTP know, let TFL take action.”

Despite this, Mr Khan said he would not be leasing with Transport for London to prevent drug use on the Underground.

He said: “We've got 500 enforcement officers employed by TFL who wear body worn videos for their safety, but also to capture evidence.

“We also have British Transport Police and the Met Police Service and City of London Police, indeed, also out and about on public transport.

“This shouldn't have happened if it was reported. You will make sure that when good citizens, Good Samaritans report things, actions are taken.”