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A Royal Air Force airport was used by a private plane linked to Jeffrey Epstein as late as 2013, documents show, as pressure grows on the Ministry of Defence to release information about the use of its military bases.
A document released by the US Department of Justice in the Epstein files shows that the aircraft landed at RAF Northolt, in north-west London, on March 18 2013 and left just over 24 hours later.
The plane’s movements are detailed in a statement from a private jet operator included in the vast cache of documents from the DoJ’s investigation into Epstein, although the receipt was not billed directly to him.
The Ministry of Defence has been urged by senior MPs to publish any information it has about the use of RAF air bases by Epstein.
Epstein’s use of RAF Marham in Norfolk in 2000 has previously been reported, but the plane’s use of Northolt is the most recent example yet to be discovered. It took place after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.
Tan Dhesi, Labour chair of the House of Commons defence select committee, told the FT that “the Ministry of Defence must reveal what they know”, adding: “Transparency is essential.”
Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: “Anything else relating to Epstein must be disclosed, especially if there is any chance that he used RAF bases for his own private flights.” The MoD must commit to publishing the information as soon as possible, Cartilage said.
The MoD’s ability to systematically evaluate the use of air bases by Epstein may be undermined by its record-keeping practices. The RAF routinely destroys all passenger manifests after three months when they are deemed to hold no further value for defence purposes, according to officials.
They added that daily air traffic control movement sheets, which record aircraft tail number or radio call sign, are only retained for about two years.
The plane’s use of Northolt is particularly sensitive because the airport is used by senior politicians and is the base for the King’s Flight, the RAF detachment in charge of transporting senior members of the royal family.
The released files suggest that one of the flights via an RAF base may have involved the movement of a woman being trafficked for sexual purposes.
Records of a short flight on December 7 2000 from Luton airport, north of London, to Marham in Norfolk show alongside Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and other passengers, someone listed only as “1 female”.
Consistent patterns in the released files suggest that such terms were used to record journeys involving some of the many young women trafficked by Epstein for sexual purposes.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “It is standard practice for spare capacity at RAF airfields in the UK to be used for private or commercial aircraft, subject to regulatory requirements and fees which cover all costs.
“Such use is not automatic and will only be approved when there is no adverse impact to military aircraft and where approval would not interfere with the security or smooth running of the airfield.”
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