Britain's Ministry of Defence has begun a formal review of flight records that could contain information connected to Jeffrey Epstein, a ministry spokesperson said, after files surfaced suggesting the late U.S. sex offender's private jet had landed on RAF airfields.
The review was ordered by Defence Secretary John Healey, the MoD spokesperson said in a statement late on Thursday. "The Defence Secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein's crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities," the statement said.
The MoD added it will support any civilian police investigations and expressed sympathy for the victims of Epstein's "vile crimes." The ministry said it will provide relevant information to law enforcement as appropriate.
British police are already working to determine whether Epstein trafficked women via private flights that passed through two London airports and one airport in central England. That assessment is part of a nationally coordinated effort to probe the financier's ties to the UK.
Calls have intensified for police to expand scrutiny to Royal Air Force bases after the recently released files appeared to show Epstein's private jet had touched down at RAF Marham, in eastern England, and RAF Northolt, near London. Private jets commonly use RAF Northolt, the statement noted, but landings at RAF Marham are described as much less common given its role as a frontline base.
The files released in January also triggered brief arrests linked to suspected sharing of confidential government documents with Epstein, according to the material disclosed following their publication. Among those arrested were Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the King's brother, and Peter Mandelson, a former British ambassador to the United States.
Nearly seven years after Epstein's death, the dossier of documents and the resulting inquiries continue to reverberate through parts of the British establishment. The MoD review aims to ensure that any records in its custody that relate to Epstein's flights are identified and handed to the relevant authorities, the spokesperson said.
As civilian police continue their assessments of airport and flight activity, the Defence Ministry has pledged cooperation. The outcome of the MoD's record review and any further findings by police remain uncertain pending the completion of those inquiries.
Summary
The Ministry of Defence has begun searching military flight logs after files suggested Jeffrey Epstein's private jet may have landed at RAF bases. This follows police assessments of private flights through multiple UK airports and file releases in January that led to arrests.
Key developments
- Defence Secretary ordered a review of MoD records for Epstein flight information.
- Police are assessing whether Epstein trafficked women via two London airports and one in central England.
- Files released in January showed alleged landings at RAF Marham and RAF Northolt and prompted recent brief arrests.