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VistaJet Citation XLS Makes Unauthorized Landing at RAF Fairford After Apparently Mistaking Military Base for Cotswold Airport

Tue, Sep 15, 2026

VistaJet Citation XLS Makes Unauthorized Landing at RAF Fairford After Apparently Mistaking Military Base for Cotswold Airport

A VistaJet-operated Cessna Citation XLS made an unauthorized landing at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after reportedly intending to land at nearby Cotswold Airport, triggering a security response at the U.S. Air Force-operated military installation. The aircraft, registration D-CJMK and operating as VistaJet 373, had departed London City Airport for the short flight to Kemble on September 15.

RAF Fairford lies roughly 15 miles east of the intended destination and is a strategically important military airfield used by the U.S. Air Force. The Citation was reportedly held on the ground for several hours following the landing while military personnel dealt with the incident. The circumstances that led the crew to land at the wrong airport have not yet been established by an official investigation.

NVOII is tracking the incident because wrong-airport landings involving professional business aviation crews are rare, and an unauthorized arrival at an active military installation introduces significant operational and security implications. Until authoritative findings are available, conclusions about navigation, visual identification, ATC communication or crew decision-making would be premature.

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