A Red Arrows display over a Spanish island was cancelled by Britain's Defence Secretary following a row with the Spanish government over Gibraltar, it has been claimed.
Madrid was said to be furious about plans for Britain's aerobatics display team to fly over Gibraltar and made it difficult for the show to go ahead.
In response, Grant Shapps is said to have scrapped a show across the Balearic island of Menorca this week.
It is reported that Spanish officials asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to cancel the Gibraltar show before Shapps responded in retaliation by cancelling the Menorca display.
Grant Shapps is said to have scrapped the show across the Balearic island of Menorca this week after Spanish officials made it difficult for the show to go ahead
PAOne source claimed the Spanish were "being d***s" about the Gibraltar show, according to The Sun.
“They had threatened to ban inbound civilian flights from using Malaga as their designated diversion airport," they added.
"That would mean every plane to Gibraltar would need more fuel to get to an airport further away in an emergency.
“That’s more weight, more cost and, as some airlines might decide it’s not worth it, fewer flights to Gibraltar — which would hit the island’s economy.”
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It is understood that local officials took the threat seriously and asked the MoD to cancel the Gibraltar show.
Shapps then axed the Menorca appearance, with a defence source saying Madrid had been = "totally hypocritical".
They added: "Spain were happy for the Red Arrows to perform in Menorca, to boost that island’s economy, but not on Gibraltar.
"They can’t have their paella and eat it.”
It is understood that local officials took the threat seriously and asked the MoD to cancel the Gibraltar show
PA
The Red Arrows have performed in Gibraltar just twice in the last 30 years, with the last time in 2009.
The MoD said: “As part of operational planning, a variety of potential display dates and locations are considered by the RAF.
"A wide range of factors are taken into account."