Following restrictions imposed by Spain, France and Italy on US linked aircraft using their airspace and bases, Shannonwatch call on the Irish government to take similar action without delay. As a neutral country, the granting of permission to US military flights to land at Shannon or to fly through Irish airspace has become even more indefensible given the illegality of the US actions in Iran.

On Tuesday (March 31^st) Shannonwatch logged no fewer than seven flights associated with the US military at Shannon or passing through Irish airspace. These included six aircraft on contract to the US military, all likely to be carrying armed troops or cargo, and a US Air Force Gulfstream V that travelled through Irish airspace about 21.40, coming from Camp Springs Air Base in Washington.

Two of the flights on contract to the US military landed at Shannon Airport. Both were Omni Air International Boeing 767’s that came from Air Force and Marine Corp bases in the US in the early morning. One flew on to the Middle East after four and a half hours at the airport. The other spent only an hour there before flying on to Bardufoss Air Base in Norway. It returned to Shannon at about 5pm on its return journey to the US.

The flights through Irish airspace were operated by American Airlines, Atlas Air Cargo, Apex Logistics and Omni Air. They used ‘Camber’ call-signs which indicate that they were transporting military equipment or personnel for the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) or Air Mobility Command (AMC).

“These flights may be connected with the fact that at least three large European countries, all of which are NATO members, have restricted the use of their territory and air space to US military flights” said a Shannonwatch spokesperson. “It is noticeable that Omni Air and others are now avoiding French air space. And yet they are given permission by the Irish government to use ours.”   

On Monday, a US Air Force C-40 Clipper also landed at Shannon for a fuel stop. This plane flew from the US to Belfast and on to Chania in Crete before returning to the US via Shannon, with a senior US military commander on board.

“The question that Micheál Martin and Helen McEntee as Minister for Foreign Affairs must answer is why this plane which was clearly linked to US military operations was given permission to land at Shannon.” said the Shannonwatch spokesperson. “On March 15^th Minister McEntee said that any type of military aircraft that is passing through or that’s stopping or refueling in Ireland cannot be travelling to any type of a conflict. And to pretend that the US military flights going through Shannon now are not linked to conflict is shameful and preposterous.“

As the US military flights continue to land at Shannon despite ongoing opposition, 91-year-old Lelia Doolan began her Walk for Peace from the airport to Dublin. Lelia’s action is shining a light on how the Irish government is turning a blind eye to our obligations under international law, and is making itself complicit in the deaths of tens of thousands of children in US initiated or supported wars.

“The ongoing assistance given by the Irish government for the transportation of US military personnel and cargo to the Middle East is sadly in line with its failure to pass the Occupied Territories Bill, its moves to get rid of the Triple Lock, and a host of other measures that put us firmly on the side of US and Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the genocide in Gaza.” said Shannonwatch.