UK - Richard Styles, pilot, charged with people smuggling , 24 Mar 2022

[Ched]

I’m finding this strange that a pilot can be of no fixed abode & own an aircraft . Pilot charged over alleged people smuggling attempt


A 52-year-old pilot has been charged with attempting to fly illegal immigrants into the UK in his aircraft.

Richard Styles, of no fixed abode, was detained during an operation led by the National Crime Agency yesterday (24 March) at Deenethorpe Airfield near Corby, in Northamptonshire.

He had just flown his twin-engine plane to the airfield from Belgium.

Northants Police officers, who were working with the NCA, stopped a taxi which had left the airfield on the Phoenix Parkway in Corby, arresting the driver and four Albanian nationals.

Both Styles and the taxi driver, a 42-year-old man from Tooting in South London, were questioned by NCA investigators.

Styles has now been charged with facilitating a breach of immigration law, and will appear before Northampton Magistrates tomorrow (26 March).

The taxi driver has been bailed pending further enquiries.

The Albanian nationals, three men and a woman all aged between 21 and 64, remain detained under immigration powers.

 

[Ellmau]

Some pilots lost their jobs due to Covid, flybe collapse, etc. And he could have had a marriage breakup.

 

[Ched]

The 52-year-old appeared in front of magistrates in Northampton on Saturday where he indicated his not guilty plea and that he had no fixed address.
Pilot accused of flying illegal immigrants into UK on his aircraft set to plead not guilty

 

[Ched]

Some pilots lost their jobs due to Covid, flybe collapse, etc. And he could have had a marriage breakup.

says “his” plane though . Seems odd you can afford a plane but don’t have an address

“
A plane belonging to pilot Richard Styles in second link photo

 

[MajorHoople]

says “his” plane though . Seems odd you can afford a plane but don’t have an address

“
A plane belonging to pilot Richard Styles in second link photo

If he's found guilty I hope his plane is confiscated.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I’m finding this strange that a pilot can be of no fixed abode & own an aircraft . Pilot charged over alleged people smuggling attempt


A 52-year-old pilot has been charged with attempting to fly illegal immigrants into the UK in his aircraft.

Richard Styles, of no fixed abode, was detained during an operation led by the National Crime Agency yesterday (24 March) at Deenethorpe Airfield near Corby, in Northamptonshire.

He had just flown his twin-engine plane to the airfield from Belgium.

Northants Police officers, who were working with the NCA, stopped a taxi which had left the airfield on the Phoenix Parkway in Corby, arresting the driver and four Albanian nationals.

Both Styles and the taxi driver, a 42-year-old man from Tooting in South London, were questioned by NCA investigators.

Styles has now been charged with facilitating a breach of immigration law, and will appear before Northampton Magistrates tomorrow (26 March).

The taxi driver has been bailed pending further enquiries.

The Albanian nationals, three men and a woman all aged between 21 and 64, remain detained under immigration powers.

I'm not sure how it is there, but in the U.S., no fixed abode could mean lots of things. (RV, houseboat, etc.)

Would the pilot be required to check documentation on the passengers? How does that work? I mean, commercial pilots are only responsible to fly the plane and land safely...far as I know.

 

[Ellmau]

Would the pilot be required to check documentation on the passengers? How does that work? I mean, commercial pilots are only responsible to fly the plane and land safely...far as I know.

I'm assuming he knew exactly what he was doing.

It sounds like it was his own private plane anyway.

 

[Ched]

A British pilot and career criminal has been jailed alongside two other men in connection with a plot to fly four Albanian illegal immigrants into the UK.

“I normally get arrested for drugs” - pilot joked with officers after arrest over botched people smuggling attempt

A British pilot and career criminal has been jailed alongside two other men in connection with a plot to fly four Albanian illegal immigrants into the UK.

www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk