Returning troops forced to strip on Birmingham Airport tarmac over uniform ban
04.01.08
More than 200 soldiers on their way home from Afghanistan had to strip off their uniforms on the tarmac at Birmingham Airport and put on civilian clothes before being allowed access to the terminal building. The incident, which has triggered a barrage of complaints to the MoD and to the airport, follows another military diversion blunder in which 130 Wiltshire-based troops returning from Iraq were left 400 miles from home at Prestwick Airport on Christmas Eve.
The charter flight on December 23 was bringing the men back for Christmas leave when it was diverted from at RAF Brize Norton because of bad weather. The troops were told they could either wait for coaches to take them to Brize Norton or else travel home via public transport - in which case they must change into civilian clothes before entering the terminal.
Around 50 chose the latter option and the soldiers were told by the pilot that their baggage was being unloaded on to the runway and that they must reclaim it, dig out their own clothes and remove their desert combat kit before they could proceed into the airport building. While he offered to allow them to re-enter the aircraft to change, most chose to strip down in a freezing wind to save precious leave time.
One soldier, who was ordered to undress for 'security reasons', told the BBC: 'It is an insult to the entire Army to force guys who've been fighting in Afghanistan to obey some jobsworth rule when all they want to do is get home to their families. So much for a nation proud of its servicemen. The temperature was Baltic on the runway but most of us just wanted to get home so we cracked on.'
An MoD spokesman said the order was likely to have been issued by the commanding officer for security reasons. He added: 'For security reasons, the MoD wishes to reduce the military profile on flights carried out on its behalf at civilian airports and there is a policy in place across the three services concerning the wearing of uniform. In this case, it appears it was applied a little too rigidly.'
A Birmingham Airport spokesman said: 'We support our Armed Forces and whatever form of dress they choose to wear at our airport. There are no restrictions relating to clothing or appearance for those using the airport for public flights. However, the airport company has been advised that certain airlines may refuse to accept personnel in military uniform.'
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