Airport responds to Yousaf in 'complicit in war crimes' row

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Prestwick Airport is publicly owned, and Mr Yousaf warned that its continued use by the American air force could make Scotland complicit in war crimes.
"I would hope the Scottish Government would take advice on its legal obligations and that includes planes refuelling at Prestwick.
'Scotland, including through the use of our publicly owned assets such as Prestwick, cannot be complicit," he said.
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But today Prestwick Airport responded pointing out it has been providing "services to military customers from around the world" for decades.
'Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arms-length from the Scottish Government," a spokeswoman said.
"For almost 80 years the airport has been providing aviation services to military customers from around the world including Nato partners. We do not comment on operational matters relating to individual military customers. All aircraft landing at any aerodrome in the UK (including Glasgow Prestwick Airport) require to have Civil Aviation Authority permission to transit UK airspace or land in the UK.'
Speaking to the Sunday Mail at the weekend Mr Yousaf said: 'The Scottish Government should be doing everything within its power to distance itself from Israel's illegal military actions, whether it's the assets we own, the limited foreign interventions we can make…Whatever we can do, we should be doing because this is the moral question of our time."
American military aircraft are a regular sight above the skies of South Ayrshire, with US planes stopping at the airport 39 times since the start of June.
The Pentagon is a powerful backer and supplier of Israel, which has been accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza. A verdict is not expected for many years.
The country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a series of strikes on Iran on June 13 with US President Donald Trump confirming early on Sunday morning that his country had entered the war.
Speaking in Holyrood on Wednesday External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson left the door open to the US military using Prestwick Airport for strikes on Iran – but insisted the base was not used in recent American bombing raids on the country.
He refused to say whether the US Air Force would be stopped from using the state-owned Ayrshire airport, which is often used by allied militaries as a refuelling stop.
Labour backbencher Carol Mochan asked whether the Scottish Government would rule out allowing America and Israel access while they carried out strikes on Iran.
She said: 'Can he assure my constituents that sites like Prestwick Airport will not be used to facilitate attacks on Iran by the USA or indeed to support Israeli aircraft, given these efforts have no UN backing whatsoever? And can he be clear what US activity is currently happening at the Prestwick Airport site?'
Mr Robertson said that he had 'not seen any information that would support any conclusion about involvement of Scottish facilities being used directly in terms of military attacks on Iran' saying that previous strikes did not involve the airport.
American bombers were refuelled 'in the air' before bombing Iran and then returned back to the US without stopping at Prestwick, Mr Robertson said.
He added: 'I understand the point she's making more generally about Prestwick Airport, if she has any information that would support the conclusion, the concern that she has, I would be grateful to hear that.
'We remain in dialogue with the UK Government – her party is in government in the UK, perhaps she would take the opportunity through her good offices to raise this with responsible UK ministers. In terms of devolved responsibilities, we will do everything that we can but she will appreciate that there are limits.'
Later asked by Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr whether there were any formal arrangements with the US to allow military access to Prestwick Airport, Mr Robertson replied: 'I would have to check the status.
'I'm not aware of any memoranda of understanding but he will appreciate it's a matter of public record Prestwick Airport is used by the US Air Force, the Canadian Royal Airforce, a number of air forces from the Middle East.'
Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party, said that the Scottish Government must ban American military planes from using the site.
In a statement, he said: 'It's not Kneecap or Palestine Action who are the threat to our society and planet but those complicit in the genocide and war. We should be ceasing fuelling US war planes at Prestwick not deplatforming an Irish rap band at a music event.'
A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'It is vital that the UK Government and the international community take action to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East and work towards peace, without which there could be disastrous implications.
'Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a commercial basis and at arm's length from the Scottish Government. Operational decisions regarding the day-to-day running of the airport are a matter for its management.'
An SNP spokesman said Mr Yousaf had nothing further to say.