On October 19th we had two US war planes at Shannon.

US Navy Hercules C130 number 16-5314 had to return to Shannon on 16 Oct due to a faulty engine. This was one of the planes we brought to the attention of Gardai on Oct 12th asking them to inspect it. 

There was also a US Navy C40 number 16-5831 at the airport. It arrived in the morning coming from Naval Air Station Oceana VA.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris provides diplomatic clearance for all landings and overflights by foreign state and military aircrafts. Diplomatic clearance is supposed to be subject to strict conditions, including stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights must not form part of military exercises or operations.

Simon Harris must know that the only type of operations or exercises that the US Air Force take part in are military ones. He must also know that the US Navy is one of the country's armed forces. So not doing any inspections of their planes at Shannon is a deriliction of duty by our Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Photos taken by Shannonwatch.