MoD deny blame for SNP MP missing vote on Brexit

MP Angus MacNeil had been due to fly to Glasgow to catch a flight to London in order to take part in indicative votes on Brexit.

The MP however had claimed flight from Barra was cancelled on Monday because of the Joint Warrior exercise.

As the UK Defence Journal pointed out on Twitter, the NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen which are filed to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route) were filed in advance of the start of the exercise and in fact are viewable for at least a week ahead, meaning aviation and airline authorities would have been aware.

In addition, a flight from Barra would not operate above the the altitude specified in the flight restriction notice.

Essentially, even if the airline didn’t know about the notice, the flight could have still taken place.

An MoD spokesman said via e-mail:

“The nature of the delay to yesterday’s Loganair flight from Barra to Glasgow was not due to a military exercise. The altitude that the flight wished to transit was below the airspace restriction, therefore from a military point of view there was no reason why the Loganair flight could not have operated.”

After messaging Loganair I was told by managing director Jonathan Hinkles:

“The Joint Warrior military exercise results in closures at short notice of certain areas of airspace, including that route used by our Twin Otter aircraft to and from Barra.  

This can lead to unexpected flight delays or cancellations which are regrettable in terms of their impact on our customers, but unavoidable from the standpoint of safety and security, which are always our absolute priorities.”

Seems a ‘Military No Fly Zone’ in Minches & Hebrides ? ? Where military didn’t warn civil flights? has cancelled this afternoon’s Barra flight by @FlyLoganair ??….
So I will not be in Westminster to vote at 8pm to 8:30 Brexit division.
Airport staff cursing the MNFZ ?

— Angus B MacNeil MP (@AngusMacNeilSNP) April 1, 2019

Upcoming NOTAM’s (Notice to Airmen which are filed to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route) were filed in advance of the start of the exercise and in fact are viewable for at least a week ahead, not sure how NATO forces can be blamed for this one. https://t.co/7RSM1kxQ71

— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) April 1, 2019

For reference, here's the week ahead. pic.twitter.com/p3TvGLGSji

— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) April 1, 2019

So, it’s fairly clear that aviation authorities were aware of this. The claim attracted ridicule, in part due to earlier claims from the MP. Angus MacNeil had earlier been mocked in the House of Commons after he locked himself in the toilet during a key vote on the European Union.

Joint Warrior is a major bi-annual (spring and autumn) multi-national exercise which takes place in the Scottish Exercise Areas.

Planned and co-ordinated by Northwood staff it is facilitated through Faslane which is used as the Headquarters throughout the exercise.

Joint Warrior 191, will take place between the 30th March amd the 11th  of April 2019 and will involve more than 10,000 personnel, 40 warships and submarines and 59 aircraft from Alliance member nations and Australia.