Claims that hundreds of migrants are landing at Manchester Airport in the dead of night are false, the Manchester Evening News can reveal. The allegation originated in what was billed as an interview with a 'whistleblower' published online, then posted by a Reform UK councillor on his X page.
The Manchester Evening News understands there are concerns over whether AI was used in the initial publication.
Councillor's post and allegations
The Reform councillor, Stuart Davies, sits on North Somerset Council. Describing what he called 'serious allegations' and referencing the source, he said the 'whistleblower' alleged aircraft were arriving between 2am and 4am, several times a week, at Manchester Airport 'carrying 200 to 300 people from the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa'.
Coun Davies, whose post has been widely shared and commented on, cited the source and said they were 'allegedly processed by Home Office staff rather than Border Force and taken away on unmarked buses'. The source article referenced the aether private terminal at Manchester Airport.
Terminal capacity and flight claims
But the terminal - used by celebrities and VIPs including the Prime Minister - only has enough space to fit 60 people and is routinely limited to just 12. The article references 'hidden' exit gates, yet the terminal is right next to the Runway Visitor Park.
It goes on to reference flight 'transponders' being switched off, which was dubbed an immediate 'red flag' by those who have read the article. Coun Davies, who represents the Wick St Lawrence and St Georges ward on the council, posted that if the account was genuine, 'these are extremely serious allegations and the government should provide clear answers'.
No such flights happen
The Manchester Evening News can report that no such flights happen. The airport does - and has done in the past - accept people on government-accredited repatriation programmes, including UK citizens coming from the Chagos Islands ahead of power passing to Mauritius. There have also been well publicised government resettlement flights including the now-closed Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and the scheme to support Ukrainians, launched after Russia invaded the country.
Those flights - of which there have been a few in the last decade - are operated by the government, published in advance and trackable on flight monitoring websites. Passengers on them have been processed through the airport's main terminals, not aether. The picture on the councillor's X post, accompanying the claims, is understood to be of a plane at Birmingham Airport.
The Manchester Evening News understands claims reported in a number of social media posts have been reported to the hosting platforms. The Manchester Evening News has approached Reform UK and Coun Davies for comment. The Home Office declined to comment.
Aviation expert's view
Martyn Cartledge, a published aviation author, said that although aether was 'a distance' from the main terminal buildings, it is not 'hidden away'. Any arriving or departing flight would be able to see it, he added. He told the Manchester Evening News: "If you switch off the transponder then air traffic control lose the detailed information of height speed and heading etc. Then they would be relying on primary radar alone."
"This is far from ideal and would provide, at best, significant challenges to air traffic control to keep aircraft at the required separation from others." He said it was 'possible but highly irregular and could be termed dangerous'. Mr Cartledge said it's not impossible to screen any number of people through aether, but to screen the numbers falsely claimed 'would take a significant number of hours' and pose difficulties for air traffic control with other aircraft.
He said there was no 'hidden exit gate, nor restricted roads' in the area concerned. Mr Cartledge added: "On a general note, Manchester has a massive enthusiast following. I can assure you if there were 'special flights' they would be all over it, as they would potentially be wanting to see the aircraft. Information like this gets out. It is simply impossible for this to be happening in complete secrecy. Regarding the X post, all I can say is that the photo is not Manchester."
