Pilot flies from Surrey to Anglesey 'because he wanted to go to the beach'
A pilot from flew from England to north Wales ''because he wanted to go to the beach.''
The civilian pilot landed on a runway at RAF Valley on Anglesey on Monday, sparking an emergency response from Ministry of Defence guards and fire crew, an RAF spokesperson said.
It is understand that, after landing, the pilot taxied his single-engine turboprop plane to the far side of the airfield, near the beach, where he was confronted by guards.
The man is believed to have flown from an airfield in Surrey as he wanted ''to go to the beach".
Workers were said to be carrying out repairs and maintenance on the airfield at the time of the incident, and no bird control unit was in place.
After security checks were carried out the pilot decide to take off again, despite the airfield remaining closed, the RAF said.
North Wales Police said it is ''considering'' whether there were ''potential breaches'' of the lockdown legislation.
An RAF spokesperson said: ''The RAF can confirm that, on May 25, a civilian PC-12 aircraft landed on a closed runway at RAF Valley without permission.
''Whilst irregular, it was assessed that there was no threat to station personnel or the wider public.
''The incident has been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).''
While the RAF does accept civil aircraft at its stations, 24 hours' notice is required to ensure they do not affect military activity.
Superintendent Richie Green, from North Wales Police, said: "We were contacted by colleagues from RAF Valley at 1.04pm on Monday 25 May, reporting that a light aircraft had made an unauthorised landing at the airbase. The pilot was dealt with by military police.
"Whilst the incident is primarily being investigated by the RAF and Civil Aviation Authority, North Wales Police are currently considering potential breaches of the Covid legislation in Wales."
A spokesman from the CAA confirmed that it was investigating the incident.