MSP hits out over 'torture flights' veil of secrecy

THE lack of information around the alleged landing of so-called torture flights at Edinburgh and other Scottish airports was today described as "astonishing".

Margaret Smith, Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh West, said rules which mean neither Edinburgh Airport chiefs or the police have to be informed about who was operating the planes and who was on-board needed to be re-examined.

Under rules agreed in the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention, no airport can refuse permission for a plane to land, unless there is no capacity, and the authorities only need to know where it has come from and where it is going to.

Ms Smith said: "In an era of global terrorism it is astonishing that so little is known about the identity of those on board a refuelling aeroplane at any given airport, including Edinburgh.

"Some of the flights alleged to have been involved are suspected to have landed at Edinburgh airport, which is in my constituency.

"However when local MP John Barrett and I met representatives from BAA plc, we were told they have no idea whether or not the allegation is true.

I find it amazing that, post 9/11, we can allow a situation to persist in which pilots can fly into our airports but we do not know who their passengers are."