Claims Air Corps plane prevented from entering Swedish airspace

The Department of Defence has been embroiled in further allegations that it failed to provide necessary paperwork for clearance into a foreign country after claims emerged that an Air Corps plane was prevented from entering Swedish airspace. The plane barely had sufficient fuel for the return trip to Ireland.

The allegation comes just 24 hours after an embarrassing oversight left the LÉ Eithne tied up when she was supposed to have left Haulbowline to help Italian authorities rescue migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Department of Defence admitted it is still in negotiations with the Italian authorities over clearance for the rescue mission, despite the Government having sanctioned the migrant operation on April 11.