Where had the two damaged Voyagers been? The flight records of ZZ338 and ZZ343
Flight records show ZZ338 and ZZ343 were flying from RAF Akrotiri in the weeks before the June 2025 protest. The MoD has not explained the records for ZZ343.
Key points
- Flight tracking shows Voyager ZZ343 landed at Brize Norton at 13:57 on 19 June 2025, hours before the protest.
- The MoD told Declassified UK that ZZ343 was undergoing routine maintenance and was not in regular service, but flight tracking shows it flew from Akrotiri for most of the previous four weeks.
- Both damaged Voyagers flew from Akrotiri around the UK's Yemen strikes in January and February 2024.
- The flight records show movements, not what the sorties were for or whether the damage affected operations.
Flight tracking shows ZZ343 landed at Brize Norton at 13:57 on 19 June 2025, hours before the protest, after flying from Akrotiri for most of the previous four weeks. The MoD told Declassified UK that ZZ343 was undergoing routine maintenance and was not in regular service. It has not explained the difference between that statement and the flight records.
#What the flight records show for each plane
The MoD has confirmed the two damaged planes were ZZ338 and ZZ343. The table compares what the MoD said, the Yemen strikes and the tracking records for each.
| ZZ338 | ZZ343 | |
|---|---|---|
| MoD's description on 20 June 2025 | In service | "Undergoing routine maintenance and not in regular service" |
| UK strikes on Yemen, Jan–Feb 2024 | At Akrotiri for the 11–12 January and 3 February strikes | At Akrotiri for the 22 January, 3 February and 24 February strikes |
| Weeks before the protest | At Akrotiri 10–11 and 12–18 June 2025; local sortie from Akrotiri on 13 June | At Akrotiri 20 May – 15 June and 18–19 June 2025; at least 12 local sorties from Akrotiri, 22 May – 15 June |
| Last flight before the protest | Tanker sortie from Brize Norton, 19 June | Akrotiri to Brize Norton, landing 13:57 on 19 June |
| Back in the air | 1 July 2025 | 12 July 2025, to Akrotiri |
Sources: flight-tracking data (Flightradar24); MoD statement via Declassified UK.
Show the data
| Row | Period | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZZ343 | At Akrotiri, 12+ local sorties | 2025-05-20 | 2025-06-15 |
| ZZ343 | At Akrotiri; lands Brize Norton 13:57 on 19 June | 2025-06-18 | 2025-06-19 |
| ZZ343 | Flies again, to Akrotiri | 2025-07-12 | 2025-07-13 |
| ZZ338 | At Akrotiri | 2025-06-10 | 2025-06-11 |
| ZZ338 | At Akrotiri; local sortie on 13 June | 2025-06-12 | 2025-06-18 |
| ZZ338 | Tanker sortie from Brize Norton | 2025-06-19 | 2025-06-19 |
| ZZ338 | Flying again | 2025-07-01 | 2025-07-02 |
#ZZ343 and the MoD's "routine maintenance" statement
ZZ343 flew from Akrotiri through the start of the Israel–Iran war on 13 June 2025, was there again on 18 and 19 June, and landed at Brize Norton at 13:57 on 19 June.
Maintenance may have started on landing. The flight records do not support describing ZZ343 as out of regular service in the weeks before the protest.
Downing Street said the incident had not blocked any planned aircraft movements or stopped any operations.
#The Yemen strikes in January and February 2024
The UK struck Houthi targets in Yemen on 11–12 January, 22 January, 3 February and 24 February 2024. Each time, one or both damaged Voyagers flew to Akrotiri the day before, flew a sortie from Akrotiri with its route hidden on the day, and returned to Brize Norton afterwards.
Declassified UK argues the strikes were "conducted in no small part to shield Israel", because the Houthis' attacks on shipping were a response to the war on Gaza. The UK government's stated reason was to protect shipping in the Red Sea.
Reporting on the 24 February 2024 strike says it involved four Typhoons supported by two Voyager tankers. The tracking data shows exactly two Voyagers at Akrotiri that day: ZZ330, arriving from Brize Norton, and ZZ343, flying a sortie with its route hidden. ZZ338 is not among them. The Yemen strikes article has more detail.
#The April 2025 strike and the Israel–Iran war
On 29 April 2025, RAF Typhoons joined a US strike on a Houthi drone factory about 15 miles south of Sanaa. The MoD confirmed the jets were refuelled in flight by Voyager tankers, and that the strike was carried out after dark (GOV.UK). Tracking data shows Voyager ZZ333 leaving Akrotiri at 19:03 that evening and landing at 01:03. Neither damaged plane was at Akrotiri that week.
The Israel–Iran war began on 13 June 2025, the day ZZ338 flew a local sortie from Akrotiri. After the war broke out, the UK sent extra Voyager tankers and Typhoon fighter jets to Cyprus (PTI).
#Limits of the records
The records show when and where the planes flew. They do not show what the sorties carried, what they were for, what was planned, or what each crew did, and they do not show what the repairs cost. For repair costs, see the damage cost figures.
The table dates ZZ343's return to the air to 12 July 2025, which is 22 days after the protest. That does not fit neatly with the chief executive's account that both aircraft were recovered in less than 21 days, and the sources do not resolve the difference. The article on the 21-day return covers that account.
Questions and answers
Were the two damaged Voyagers at Akrotiri before the protest?
Yes. Flight tracking records ZZ338 at Akrotiri on 10–11 and 12–18 June 2025, and ZZ343 at Akrotiri from 20 May to 15 June 2025 and again on 18–19 June 2025.
Did the MoD say ZZ343 was in regular service?
No. The MoD said ZZ343 was undergoing routine maintenance, not in regular service. Flight tracking shows it flying from Akrotiri for most of the four weeks before the protest.
When did the damaged Voyagers return to service?
The flight records give ZZ338 flying again on 1 July 2025 and ZZ343 flying to Akrotiri on 12 July 2025. AirTanker's chief executive said both aircraft were recovered in less than 21 days.
Sources
- How much damage did Palestine Action really do at Brize Norton?
- Statement on air strike against Houthi military facility in Yemen
- UK Typhoon jets destroy Houthi drone facility in Yemen strike
- Booms, probes & PFIs: future of UK air refuelling (interview with Mark Alexander, CEO of AirTanker)
- Flight histories for Voyager ZZ338 and ZZ343
