Argentine plane banned from British air show over fears its name is an insult to Falklands War veterans
AN Argentine plane has been banned from a British air show over fears its name is an insult to Falklands War vets.
Transport craft Islas Malvinas was due to take part in the Royal International Air Tattoo this month after an RAF invite.
But its name is what Argentina calls the disputed territory it invaded in 1982 to start the war — and still claims it owns.
The RAF has performed a U-turn on the invite — sparking Argentine fury.
A defence source slammed the RAF for an “epic own goal”.
They said: “This is totally self-inflicted.
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“They tried to woo Argentina and end up p***ing them off.”
Ex-Navy pilot Nigel “Sharkey” Ward, who flew in the war, said the invitation had shown a “considerable lack of sensitivity” to the veterans and the 255 Brit servicemen killed in the conflict.
An Argentinian Embassy spokesman said: “Our country regrets that the invitation was revised.”
They added the RAF had been fully briefed on the plane’s name for the event at RAF Fairford, Gloucs, on July 14-16.
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An RAF source said: “The Argentine Air Force was invited to participate with an alternative aircraft, but unfortunately declined to do so.”