IAA criticised for lack of disclosure

The failure of the Irish Aviation Authority to disclose the full nature of ‘cloaked’ foreign military planes entering our airspace and the potential threat this poses to commercial airlines has been described as “totally unacceptable” by one of the country’s foremost security experts.

Tom Clonan, a former senior officer with the Irish Army and a security expert, said the public had the right to know the risk posed by military aircraft flying into the airspace controlled by the IAA. Such aircraft turn off their transponders and make themselves virtually invisible to air traffic controllers and passing civilian aircraft.

Mr Clonan made his comments after the IAA refused a request from the Irish Examiner to provide details of the number of warplanes which have strayed into IAA-controlled airspace this year.