Don't fly spy-row Edward Snowden to UK, airlines warned

A confidential document today revealed that the British Government has warned airlines not to fly spy-row leaker Edward Snowden to the United Kingdom.

Officials issued a global alert telling airlines they would pay the cost of Mr Snowden’s “detention and removal” if they did. They may also be fined.

The airline alert, dated Monday on a Home Office letterhead, said carriers should deny Mr Snowden boarding because he is “highly likely to be refused entry”.

The 29-year-old is believed to be in Hong Kong after leaking top-secret documents about US National Security Agency surveillance programmes.

A British diplomat who spoke to the Associated Press news agency confirmed the authenticity of the alert document — RALON Carrier Alert 15/13, which also carries a photograph of Snowden, his date of birth and passport number.

It said: “If this individual attempts to travel [to] the UK carriers should deny boarding.”

The alert was issued by the Risk and Liaison Overseas Network, part of the UK Border Agency with staff in countries identified as transit points for people with inadequate travel documents.

The diplomat said the alerts were issued when the Government wants to deny entry to those who do not normally need visas to get into the country. Alternatively, it may be the person has a visa but something happened since issuing to lead the Government to want to withdraw it. Convicted sex offenders are sometimes also denied entry into the UK in the same way, the diplomat said.

A Bangkok Airways officer confirmed the airline received the alert and that the document was not intended to be seen by the public.

Virgin would not comment, but a British Airways spokeswoman told the Standard: “We comply with government requirements.”

An official at the Home Office said today: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”

No warrants for Mr Snowden’s arrest have yet been issued, however he has been accused of an “act of treason” by a US Senator.