US military flights over Ireland higher than previously disclosed, investigation finds

At least 248 US military flights over Ireland were underreported since last summer, an investigation has found.

An investigation led by the Irish Times found the additional flights included military transport aircraft, troop carriers, and surveillance planes.

The figures also show a 56% increase in US military overflights of Ireland last month, during a period when the US launched hundreds of strikes on Iran.

The Irish Foreign Ministry said the underreporting was due to an administrative error.

Last Thursday, it republished overflight figures for the past eight months, revealing an additional 248 flights that had not been included in earlier data.

The ministry publishes monthly figures on overflights by foreign military aircraft.

It is typically reported that US military aircraft fly over Ireland between 30 and 50 times a month. However, official statistics suggested that in September the figure fell to as few as two flights.

Aircraft tracked included C-130 transport planes used to move troops and military equipment.

Last week, a man was arrested in connection with an alleged attack on a similar type of aircraft after it landed at Shannon Airport.