A German-registered private jet mistakenly landed at RAF Fairford after the aircraft approached the wrong airfield, according to reports.
The incident involved a Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+, which caused a security response due to RAF Fairford’s active use by the US Air Force.
The jet departed London City Airport at 8:49am and landed at the airbase at 9:21am on Saturday, 12 September. The intended destination for the aircraft was Cotswolds Airport, the UK’s largest private airport, located approximately 11 miles from RAF Fairford.
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Following the unplanned landing, local sources report that the pilot and aircraft were required to remain on site for interviews and to complete necessary paperwork.
Social media posts from AeroResource indicated there was a “shut down” of the runway after the jet touched down, reflecting the heightened security measures taken in response to the error.
Separately, the UK government has allowed the US to conduct defensive operations from British bases hosting American personnel and aircraft, while not cooperating with offensive actions against Iran.