Under the orders of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps a private jet suspected of being linked billionaire oil tycoon Eugene Shvidler has been seized.
The Bombardier Global 6500 jet arrived in Farnborough from the US state of New Jersey on Friday which was due to fly to Dubai on Tuesday afternoon.
Shvidler who is a friend of Roman Abramovich is “free to continue his journey by other means” after the plane was impounded, a government source confirmed.
Shapps revoked the foreign carrier permit, meaning it could not legally carry passengers who then issued a restriction of flying order which grounded the private jet.
The jet will only be allowed to leave Farnborough if it is found there are no links with Russia the source added, which is unlikely to happen today.
Under the advice of Attorney General Suella Braverman an operation was launched, which is being assisted by the National Crime Agency.
The National Crime Agency said in a statement, “We can confirm we are assisting Government partners in connection with the detention of an aircraft by UK authorities.”
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said, “The UK Government has issued a Notice to Airmen (Notam) to prevent a flight which is in dispute from taking off from Farnborough Airport.
“It will remain at the airport whilst we investigate further whether it falls under the recent legislation banning all Russian-linked aircraft.
“We are working with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to clarify and it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
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