B-1 crews scrambled out of RAF Fairford before tankers were ready as threat intel spiked, NYT reports
US bomber crews took off from RAF Fairford while aerial refuelling aircraft were still being scrambled, and at least three B-1s were back in South Dakota by Sunday, as threat intelligence escalated sharply in 24 hours.
The US withdrawal of all 12 B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford was so urgent that some bomber crews took off for the United States while the aerial refuelling aircraft needed to support their return flights were still being scrambled, the New York Times has reported, citing US officials.
At least three of the bombers had reached their home base in South Dakota by Sunday, officials told the Times. US European Command confirmed that all American bombers deployed to Fairford were returning home, but declined to address the reported threat.
One US official said the latest intelligence was connected to threat warnings that emerged about three weeks ago, but that “specific information and the urgency surrounding the threat increased sharply over the past 24 hours, alarming commanders”.
The withdrawal followed the investigation into a suspected terror plot targeting the Gloucestershire base. Six people have been arrested and released on bail, and British authorities have linked the incident to Tehran, which denies involvement.
The move comes as President Donald Trump weighs new strikes on Iran. “We have decisions that I’ll make about Iran. Iran’s been decimated. So the only question is — it’ll either be the easy way or the hard way,” Trump told reporters on Saturday before departing the White House for a rally in Ohio.
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