Heathrow cargo terminal's control post 24 is normally reserved for piles of airline food, force-fed to a captive audience.
Yesterday, as catering wagons trundled past, Mike Tyson was whisked unceremoniously out of this humble exit and into Britain for the second time.
Just under an hour earlier the boxer's Concorde jet from New York had dropped out of a clear blue sky into an airport in chaos, after an air traffic control computer glitch which had left many thousands of travellers stranded.
Tyson (33), had been advised by police to avoid walking into Terminal Four after being mobbed on his last visit. This time, a few fans in the arrivals lounge were disappointed but there were no protests.
Members of the Glasgow-based Rape Crisis Centre, who mounted a failed legal challenge to are expected to demonstrate when Tyson arrives in Scotland.
The boxer, who fights fellow American Lou Savarese at Hampden Park on Saturday, looked gloomy as he was driven away in a silver Mercedes, with a half-hearted wave. He had delayed his trip so he could attend the funeral of a close friend who was shot dead in the Bronx.
But promoter Frank Warren insisted Tyson was fighting fit. "He is very upset and concerned about his friend. But you will see for yourself. Rumours are circulating that he's ballooned up and he's overweight. You'll see he's fit."
The world's most highly paid boxer, the American Oscar de la Hoya, is considering retirement after losing an enthralling WBC and IBA world welterweight title fight to his fellow-Angeleno Shane Mosley on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old de la Hoya earned $8 million for the bout at the city's Staples Centre, which was decided on a split decision. Afterwards, however, he was unsure if he would accept the automatic rematch stipulated in the fight contract.
Spectators were on their feet for most of the 12 rounds as Mosley, the former IBF lightweight champion, gave a brilliant display of lightning quick hands and feet that had de la Hoya mesmerised.
The fight was scored 116-112 and 115-113 in Mosley's favour, against 115-113 for de la Hoya. "I felt I won it by a point," said the deposed champion, "but when I didn't knock him out I knew I wouldn't get the decision."
