Spanish Jet Fighters entering illegally into Gibraltar Airspace!
Courtesy Express - http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/518873/Gibraltar-airspace-illegally-invaded-Spanish-fighter-jets
Spanish fighter jets illegally invade British airspace over Gibraltar
SPANISH fighter jets illegally entered UK airspace to fly “across the bows” of a British airliner in a “reckless and dangerous” stunt over Gibraltar.
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Courtesy Gibraltar Chronicle- http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=34734
SPANISH FIGHTER JETS 'ILLEGALLY INVADE' BRITISH AIRSPACE OVER GIBRALTAR - REPORT
Spanish fighter jets illegally entered UK airspace to fly “across the bows” of a British airliner in a “reckless and dangerous” stunt over Gibraltar, according to a report in the Sunday Express.
The incident, being investigated by the Foreign Office, happened as the Monarch flight carrying passengers from Manchester was making its delicate approach on to the Rock, the UK newspaper reported in a front page article.
The incident, being investigated by the Foreign Office, happened as the Monarch flight carrying passengers from Manchester was making its delicate approach on to the Rock, the UK newspaper reported in a front page article.
The Sunday Express said the passenger jet’s captain reported seeing the two aircraft less than half a mile away and air traffic controllers at Gibraltar International Airport noticed “two dots” on their radar just before 10.30am on September 19.
According to the report, both jets, thought to be Eurofighter Typhoons, were clearly in Gibraltar airspace without permission but attempts to communicate with them were ignored.
A Foreign Office spokesman told the Sunday Express: “We are aware of the incident on September 19. We are reassured that there was no risk to safety caused by the activity of the jets.”
“We are continuing to examine the incident to ascertain whether it was within the lawful right of passage.”
A Gibraltar Government spokesman said: “Spanish vessels already regularly violate the sovereignty of our waters.”
“It is intolerable that Spanish military aircraft are now not only infringing our airspace but also behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner.”
PRECEDENT
This is not the first time that Spanish military jets have flown close to the Rock.
In July last year, the Chronicle reported on how four Spanish jets “buzzed” the Rock and delay to a commercial flight.
The four planes – the Spanish version of the Harrier jet – were flying back to the Spanish aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, which was on a training exercise about 10 miles southeast off the Rock.
The jets approached the Rock from the northwest before turning east out into the Mediterranean and south toward the ship.
Eyewitnesses said the Matador jets flew in from behind Los Barrios and very close to the north end of the Rock.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence played down the incident at the time and insisted there was no evidence to suggest the Spanish planes entered Gibraltar airspace.
But the planes flew close enough to generate alarm and prompt an angry response from the Gibraltar Government.
On the tarmac in Gibraltar, the outbound British Airways flight was delayed by 12 minutes.
According to the report, both jets, thought to be Eurofighter Typhoons, were clearly in Gibraltar airspace without permission but attempts to communicate with them were ignored.
A Foreign Office spokesman told the Sunday Express: “We are aware of the incident on September 19. We are reassured that there was no risk to safety caused by the activity of the jets.”
“We are continuing to examine the incident to ascertain whether it was within the lawful right of passage.”
A Gibraltar Government spokesman said: “Spanish vessels already regularly violate the sovereignty of our waters.”
“It is intolerable that Spanish military aircraft are now not only infringing our airspace but also behaving in a reckless and dangerous manner.”
PRECEDENT
This is not the first time that Spanish military jets have flown close to the Rock.
In July last year, the Chronicle reported on how four Spanish jets “buzzed” the Rock and delay to a commercial flight.
The four planes – the Spanish version of the Harrier jet – were flying back to the Spanish aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, which was on a training exercise about 10 miles southeast off the Rock.
The jets approached the Rock from the northwest before turning east out into the Mediterranean and south toward the ship.
Eyewitnesses said the Matador jets flew in from behind Los Barrios and very close to the north end of the Rock.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence played down the incident at the time and insisted there was no evidence to suggest the Spanish planes entered Gibraltar airspace.
But the planes flew close enough to generate alarm and prompt an angry response from the Gibraltar Government.
On the tarmac in Gibraltar, the outbound British Airways flight was delayed by 12 minutes.
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In the last few months we have had numerous illegal incursions by sea by the para military and the Spanish Navy. Also numerous incursions on illegal fishing. Not only that, we have constant harassment by Spanish Para military trying to enforce jurisdiction in our British Gibraltar Territorial Waters!
What is UK government doing about all this? - simple answer NOTHING! We are just a pawn in a bigger political game and we are - as a people and as a country being sacrificed and undermined!
We are at the mercy of pencil pushers in the Foreign Office (FCO) these people who have no clue of who we are or where we are! These people who think Gibraltar is in Malta - these people who call us Gibraltese or Gibraltans!
How can we ever expect the UK Government or their FCO to do their job if they have no real knowledge about our people - our culture etc.
Recently we have heard and read how our own Governor is not aware and he is here with us! IF he thinks and says that we are an insular kind of people - this is exactly what the FCO think about us too! This is not acceptable! They believe this only because we demand that they keep to our Constitution that clearly states and they accepted that they (that is UK Government and FCO) - are responsible for the security of Gibraltar and our Foreign affairs!
So now when the shit hits the fan - where is their action?
as per our constitution - Governor’s special responsibilities
47.-(1) The Governor, acting in his discretion, shall be responsible in Gibraltar for
the conduct (subject to this Constitution and any other law) of the following matters –
(a) external affairs;
(b) defence;
(c) internal security, including (subject to section 48) the police;
(d) such functions in relation to appointments to public offices and related matters
as are conferred on him by this Constitution:
Provided that the Governor shall in respect of external affairs as far as practicable
act in consultation with the Chief Minister.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that any matter which falls outside the
special responsibilities of the Governor set out in subsection (1), or which is not a
function which this Constitution or any other law requires the Governor to exercise in
his discretion, is the responsibility of Ministers. 38
(3) Without prejudice to the United Kingdom’s responsibility for Gibraltar’s
compliance with European Union law, matters which under this Constitution are the
responsibility of Ministers shall not cease to be so even though they arise in the
context of the European Union.
(4) The exercise by the Governor of his responsibility for external affairs and
defence is without prejudice to the overall responsibility of Her Majesty’s
Government in the United Kingdom for these matters.
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It looks like once again UK Government wants to be the peace maker on an issue that would stop being an issue if only UK Government was honest and truthful and told SPAIN to keep off and out of Gibraltar! The same stance shown to the people of The Falklands is the same stance we want!
Really is Petrol and Oil more important than 30,000 British Gibraltarians?
We now have to educate our present Governor Sir James Dutton and remove the FCO brainwashing thinking - which we will do as we always do by showing them the people we really are and not what they have been blindly taught!
Anne-Marie Struggles
