Crew filming scenes for new James Bond movie spark terror scare at UK’s biggest RAF air base
BUNGLING crew filming the new James Bond movie at Britain’s biggest air base forgot their van – and sparked a terror scare.
Up to 400 personal were evacuated on Tuesday night at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, and the base put on lock down while bomb dogs investigated the suspect vehicle.
It is feared dopey technicians on the Bond production for new flick No Time to Die left the van after shooting scenes at the RAF base last week.
When security staff realised the van’s security passes had lapsed they ordered a lock down at around 7pm.
As hundreds were cleared from a huge cordon rumours quickly spread that the vehicle was packed with pyrotechnic explosives, but defence insiders said it was not.
A source said: “They were filming parts of the Bond film here last week and some of the crew used the sergeant’s mess for lunch.
'UNBELIEVABLE BLUNDER'
“Everything was packed up on Friday but amazingly one of the vans was left behind outside the mess. I don’t know if it was the film company or the hire company, but someone reported the van.
“Sniffer dogs from a bomb disposal unit were sent in to investigate immediately.
“A 300 metre cordon was put in place while it was assessed by bomb disposal teams. It is an unbelievable blunder to have caused such a massive security risk.
I expect the film company will face a firm slap on the wrist but it won’t stop film companies being allowed on base because it brings in a lot of money.”
Service personnel and their families were only allowed to return at midnight, sources said.
RAF Brize Norton— which houses thousands of British servicemen on a 481 hectare site in Oxfordshire— was also used to film parts of last year’s Mission Impossible- Fallout.
It is the main air transport hub for the RAF. At the height of the Afghan war thousands used to fly from the air base every year.
BOMB DISPOSAL TEAM
It is the latest disaster to hit the 25th movie in the Bond franchise.
The Sun revealed in June how a crew member on No Time To Die was “seriously hurt” when three explosions tore through the set at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
Filming was also delayed when 007 star Daniel Craig, 51, tweaked ankle ligaments on set in Jamaica.
And the entire project got off to a bad start when original director Danny Boyle quit over a script dispute.
The film is expected to be Craig’s last outing as the spy and Boyle is said to have quit over plans to kill the character off.
An RAF spokesman, said: “The RAF can confirm that a vehicle with a lapsed pass was identified at RAF Brize Norton last night.
“To ensure the safety of our people a cordon was set up and a number of personnel were moved. Subsequently, the vehicle was checked & identified and as it posed no threat, all personnel were returned to their accommodation.”
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