US military aircraft leave second UK base

On Monday, at least ten US Air Force refuelling planes departed from a second airbase located in Britain. Flight tracking information reviewed by BBC Verify confirmed that these aircraft left RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, subsequently landing at various American bases across Europe as well as at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire. While The Wall Street Journal reported that this movement was prompted by a threat from Iran, the BBC has not independently confirmed this assertion.

These aircraft departures occurred weeks after the United States removed its bombers from the RAF Fairford airbase, following a suspected security incident linked to Iran. When questioned about the flights, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the BBC that they do not regularly comment on other nations’ activity, adding that “Aircraft and other assets move regularly ​according to operational ​requirements.” The BBC has also reached out to the Pentagon and the United States European Command (EUCOM) for further comments.

Tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that US Air Force KC-135 tankers were seen leaving Mildenhall throughout Monday. Initially, two aircraft flew to US bases in Germany and Italy. The first KC-135 returned to Mildenhall before continuing east to land at Spangdahlem airbase in Germany. Meanwhile, the other KC-135 flew circuits over Aviano airbase in Italy before also landing at Spangdahlem. Later that day, flight-tracking records showed an additional eight KC-135s departing Mildenhall. Notably, one aircraft landing at Prestwick was part of the Nebraska Air National Guard, suggesting that this may have been a routine stop before heading back to its home base.

Regarding the evacuation of aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, Education Secretary Lucy Powell stated on BBC Breakfast that she could not comment on ongoing operations but emphasized the importance of the security and safety of UK bases. She added, “we will always act on security intelligence when we need to.” A US Air Force spokesperson explained that the movement of aircraft between installations happens for various reasons, including training and operational requirements, and emphasized that such activities occur under agreements with allied nations. Due to operational security, no additional details on asset movements were provided. Former UK National Security Adviser Lord Ricketts, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, described the base as “a large target” due to its size and perimeter, suggesting the recent activity likely reflects an “abundance of caution.”

The recent departures from Mildenhall come in the context of heightened security concerns, following a major incident at the RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire. In September, three suspicious vans were spotted near the base, prompting a major security alert. Subsequently, the US withdrew its bombers from Fairford back to America. In connection with an alleged Iran-linked plot, two British nationals appeared in court in October, part of a larger counter-terror police investigation that has resulted in the arrest of eight men. Before news of the flights emerged, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed Iranian threats against American diplomats, stating, “We’ve addressed it by moving people away from the threat,” and highlighting the priority given to the safety of US personnel and their families overseas