The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ELOPEMENT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
E
L
O
P
E
M
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result ELOPEMENT
- Bound to take chaps into extraterrestrial sort of escape
- Secret flight bound to disturb fellows in film
- Bolting heating component will involve a little work
- Fugitive union member has internal operation
- Breakaway union should follow it
- Activity to form secret union?
- Work in iron? It might have taken one to a Scottish forge
- As partners, going off work in principle
- Copper, maybe covering operation, going off to unify
- Lead, for instance, around work — running for union?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Secret flight" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case secret flight = elopement.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.